If all of the missing skiers should perish, the incident would rank among the deadliest single avalanches on record in the US.
A frantic search was under way on Wednesday for nine backcountry skiers missing after an avalanche in the mountains of California, where a huge storm has dumped heavy snow.
Officials said a group of 15 people were caught up in the avalanche on Castle Peak in the Tahoe area late on Tuesday morning.
Six skiers had been rescued “with varying injuries” on Tuesday evening, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said, though mountain rescue teams battling treacherous conditions were still trying to find the others as snow fell and daylight faded.
Two of the rescued skiers were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Authorities previously said 16 people – four guides and 12 clients – were on the trip, before revising that number down 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 on Tuesday evening.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
