German village evacuated amid avalanche risk
Residents of a village in southern Germany have been ordered to leave their homes immediately due to an “acute” avalanche risk.
Authorities said villagers of Raiten, near the Austrian border, should take important documents and medicines with them, and inform neighbours who may be unaware of the warning.
Heavy snowfall over the past few weeks has greatly heightened the risk of avalanches in parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Dozens of people have died in avalanches and weather-related accidents.
German meteorological service DWD said the amount of snowfall in the Alps recently was unusual but not exceptional.
The agency said heavy precipitation might become more frequent due to climate change, though rising temperatures mean it could come down as rain rather than snow.