Three climbers die tragically when lightning in Tyrol's mountains die

Three climbers die tragically when lightning in Tyrol's mountains die

On June 16, 2025, a tragic scene occurred on the lunch tip, a popular mountain in the Landeck district in Tyrol. Three experienced domestic climbers-a 62-year-old man, his 60-year-old brother and the 60-year-old wife of the brother-died in a lightning strike. The incident happened during a sudden change in weather that surprised the group when we relegated. Those affected reported from the summit around noon and described the ongoing changes in the weather. However, around 12:30 p.m. a strong change in the weather, which forced them to start relegation immediately.

The group was about 2,270 meters high when it was reported missing at shortly before 7:00 p.m. Relatives alerted the rescue workers after the mountaineers did not return. A complex search was initiated immediately in the police, local mountain rescues and the emergency doctor helicopter "Christophorus 5". The difficult conditions due to heavy rain, fog and violent wind made the rescue work extremely difficult. Ultimately, the mountaineers were motionless near a marked climb at around 2,268 meters. An emergency doctor could only determine her death, which was caused by the lightning strike.

The risks of mountaineering

The lunch tip is considered the popular destination for hikers and mountaineers, but also carries considerable risks, especially in unstable weather conditions. Experts warn that such changes in weather have become more common in recent years due to climate change. According to information from the Alpenverein , the Alps have become significantly warmer in recent years, which leads to more unpredictable weather conditions. The last eight years have been the warmest since the beginning of the records, which brings special challenges for mountaineers.

climate change leads to increasingly extreme weather events that change the alpine danger situation. Taut of the permafrost, the mountaineering becomes more risky. Current reports on droughts, abortions of glacier and frequent stone cheeks illustrate the increasing risks. The annual melting of 0.5 to 1 meter of ice thickness of many glaciers could also have serious effects on the safety of mountaineers.

The tragedy around the three climbers is an urgent indication of how important it is to carefully plan tours and to consider current weather warnings in order to protect themselves and its companions. It is crucial to deal with the risks of mountaineering. Finally, measures to reduce risk - such as avoiding permafrost areas and adjustments in tour planning - can be decisive in order to avoid such unfortunate incidents in the future.