19 People Stranded in Cars amid Heavy Snowfall Rescued in ‘Treacherous’ Conditions

A heavy snowstorm left them trapped in their vehicles near Mount Hotham in Australia on Saturday, June 7

Nineteen people have been rescued after becoming trapped in their vehicles during a heavy snowstorm at Mount Hotham in Australia’s Victorian Alps over the weekend, according to authorities and news reports.

On Sunday, June 7, emergency services conducted a search and rescue operation to recover those who were stranded near Hotham Heights after “more than 50cm of snowfall in the area,” the Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) announced in a news release on Sunday, June 8.

According to The Guardian and 9 News, 13 motorists and two hikers were rescued on Sunday after getting trapped in the snow near Mount Hotham the previous night. They got stuck around 10:50 p.m. traveling along Blue Rag Range Track near Dargo High Plains Road.

Half a dozen of those trapped were forced to spend a second night in their vehicles, the ABC reported, citing SES Regional Duty Officer James Boler.

“The rescue operation has actually been pretty treacherous,” Boler told the outlet. The conditions up on the mountain have been very, very difficult to deal with.”

All 19 people who were trapped in their vehicles at Mount Hotham have now been rescued, the ABC reported. While 13 were rescued on Sunday, a further six were brought to safety on Monday, June 9. (The SES had initially said on Sunday that “more than 20 people [were] stuck in their vehicles.)

No one remains trapped in the area, The Guardian reported, citing SES and police.

There has about 24 inches of snowfall in the region over the past week, with temperatures falling to 24.2-degrees Fahrenheit, according to the ABC.

The Country Fire Association, Wangaratta ski club and Hotham alpine resort all assisted SES in their rescue efforts, according to The Guardian.

“We were very surprised at the number of vehicles that we did come across yesterday,” SES Unit Controller Graham Gales said, per the outlet. “The experience of our drivers going into the Dargo High Plains Road yesterday was even they were having difficulty, and these are people that basically work in the snow all year round.”

On Friday, June 6, the Alpine Shire Council had posted a weather warning on Facebook stating that travelers should “avoid the Dargo High Plains Road over the King’s Birthday long weekend” due to “snow and high winds” in the alps.

“If you’re heading out on the roads, please drive to the conditions, pay attention to signage and don’t drive on roads with closure notices in place,” the warning read.