Avalanche warning to snowmobilers in Swedish mountains
A warning has been issued to snowmobilers in the Swedish mountains to be aware of the risk of triggering an avalanche after a man died in the Ljungdalen area of Jämtland.
Mountain rescuer Rickard Svedjesten tells Swedish Radio that the current strong winds in the mountains combined with a large amount of snow means there is an increased risk of avalanche, which can be triggered by people on powerful snowmobiles.
“One only has to look at North America since the 2000’s where snowmobile riders are overrepresented in fatality statistics. More than 50 percent of people killed in avalanches there are riding snowmobiles, and it’s down to the development in the snowmobiles, they are lighter, faster, bigger and more powerful than they were in the 90’s,” he says.
A man in his 40’s riding a snowmobile was killed in a 300 metre wide avalanche on Thursday in the Ljungdalen area of Jämtland.
Related stories from around the North:
Finland: Sudden shift in weather brings hazardous driving conditions in Finland, Yle News
Norway: Norway beefs up border patrol with powerful new snowmobiles, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Cold brings record numbers to Stockholm homeless shelter, Radio Sweden
Russia: Arctic Russia military town left without heating and hot water, The Independent Barents Observer
