A massive rescue operation was carried out in the Austrian Alps after 36 tourists from three haredi families - including Belgian, Austrian, American, and British citizens - became stranded in impassable terrain at an altitude of 2,300 meters in the Sölden area of Austria.
According to local police, the hikers were not equipped with mountain footwear or safety equipment and were traveling with baby carriages and infants. The families had planned to descend along a wide forest trail, but strayed from their original route and reached an exposed area where there was a risk of falling.
According to local rescue commander Jakob Fiegl, this is a common mistake among inexperienced tourists. The terrain became particularly steep and dangerous for hikers with baby carriages, and one of the young children was forced to cling to rocks to avoid falling.
Two members of the group called emergency services at around 5:15 p.m. Two helicopters and ground rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Fourteen people, including the youngest children, were evacuated by helicopter using ropes, while rescuers escorted the remaining 22 hikers on foot down to the valley.
No one was injured in the incident, but the tourists are expected to bear the full cost of the rescue operation, amounting to thousands of euros.