The Blons Avalanche

Over 200 people died in Austria's worst single avalanche. Blons, Austria, was one of eight small villages in an isolated valley northwest of Langen. Some 380 people lived in 90 houses spread over 10 square miles. At 10:30 am on January 12, 1954, a dry-snow avalanche destroyed the entire central section of Blons. Around nine hours later, as surviving villagers attempted to dig out victims, a second avalanche struck the town after traveling 3,800 feet down the mountainside in less than 30 seconds. 115 rescue workers and survivors died in the second slide.