Emergency crews airlifted dozens of people to safety late Monday after a powerful thunderstorm triggered multiple landslides in the Tyrolean communities of Gschnitz and Neustift im Stubaital, local authorities confirmed. The severe storm, which brought intense rainfall and hail to the district of Innsbruck-Land, caused several Murenabgänge—a German term for debris or mudslides—down the steep alpine terrain. The resulting damage isolated several rural areas, with an estimated 150 to 200 people temporarily cut off from outside access.
Helicopter rescues were carried out late into the evening as rescue teams attempted to reach people stranded by blocked roads and washed-out infrastructure. As of Tuesday morning, no casualties had been reported, but assessments of property damage are ongoing.
Local officials described the destruction as “enormous,” with parts of the Gschnitz valley rendered inaccessible due to thick mud, rock debris, and damaged roads, according to local news company MeinBezirk Tirol. Visual footage posted on social media showed torrents of mud rushing down mountain slopes and inundating alpine homes.
Severe summer storms are not uncommon in the region, though the intensity of this system overwhelmed local drainage and slope stabilization efforts. Austrian emergency services have not yet issued an official damage estimate, but recovery and clearing efforts are already underway.
Meteorologists continue to monitor weather patterns in the Alps as more storms are forecast for later in the week.
30.06.2025#Austria
After a severe #thunderstorm with hail in the municipality of Gschnitz, Innsbruck-Land, several #landslides occurred. Dozens of people trapped in Gschnitz had to be evacuated by helicopter. 150-200 people were cut off from the world.@unwetterfreaks pic.twitter.com/qMNhK2D3BL— Climate Review (@ClimateRe50366) June 30, 2025
