Avalanches In Austria Kill 12...12/29/99

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A massive snow storm triggered avalanches Tuesday in western and central Austria, killing at least 12 people, including nine German tourists who had hiked to mountain huts for a millennium party, the Austria Press Agency reported. Two German hikers were rescued by their colleagues after the avalanche struck the Alpine area outside the western Austrian village of Galtuer, however one of them died in the evening hours. Eight others in the  party were killed immediately, Gaktyer Mayor Anton Mattle told APA. The deaths occurred at an elevation of about 9,900 feet in the mountains between Ischgl and Galtuer. Earlier this year, 38 people were killed there when massive avalanches of snow destroyed houses in the villages of Galtuer and Valzur.