A desperate search was continuing Wednesday for nine backcountry skiers still missing after a powerful avalanche struck the mountains of California in the United States, where a massive winter storm has unleashed heavy snowfall.
Authorities said a group of 15 people were swept up by the avalanche on Castle Peak in the Tahoe region late Tuesday morning.
By Tuesday evening, six skiers had been rescued “with varying injuries,” according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
However, rescue teams battling dangerous conditions were still searching for the remaining victims as snowfall persisted and daylight faded.
Two of the rescued skiers were transported to a hospital for further treatment.
Officials had earlier reported that 16 people, four guides and 12 clients, were involved in the trip, but later revised the figure to 15.
“Due to extreme weather conditions, it took several hours for rescue personnel to safely reach the skiers and transport them to safety where they were medically evaluated by Truckee Fire,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Tuesday evening.
“The search is ongoing, pending weather conditions.”
Authorities noted that 46 emergency responders were deployed for the operation, including “highly skilled rescue ski teams” from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, who helped evacuate the six survivors.
Meanwhile, the powerful storm continued to batter the Sierra Nevada throughout the day, dumping several feet of snow and creating white-out conditions, forecasters said.
Experts warned that the avalanche threat would likely persist into Wednesday.
“HIGH avalanche danger exists in the backcountry. Large avalanches are expected to occur Tuesday, Tuesday night, and into at least early Wednesday morning across backcountry terrain,” the Sierra Avalanche Center said.
“HIGH avalanche danger might continue through the day on Wednesday.”
The National Weather Service reported that parts of the Sierra above 3,500 feet (1,000 meters) could receive up to eight feet (2.4 meters) of snow within 48 hours, along with wind gusts reaching 55 miles (90 kilometers) per hour.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Captain Russell Green told local station KCRA that authorities generally advise against backcountry skiing.
“People go out and use the backcountry at all times,” Green said. “We advise against it, obviously, but I wouldn’t say that it’s uncommon. Not that it was a wise choice.”
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has recorded six avalanche-related deaths across the United States so far this season, including one at Castle Peak in January.
