Eight skiers have been confirmed dead, with one still missing, following a devastating avalanche in California's northern mountains. The incident occurred Tuesday morning in the Castle Peak area of Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, engulfing a group of 15 backcountry skiers.
Authorities initially reported nine missing people, but by Wednesday morning, eight fatalities had been confirmed. "Eight of the additional nine skiers have been located deceased," stated Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon. The search for the final missing individual is ongoing.
Six skiers were rescued from the avalanche. Two suffered injuries requiring hospitalization, while one was treated and released. The group was returning from a three-day excursion outside of ski resort boundaries when the disaster struck. The rescued skiers managed to communicate with emergency services using a radio beacon and text messages from a makeshift shelter.
Difficult conditions and the risk of further avalanches have significantly hampered rescue efforts. California has been experiencing a powerful storm system, bringing heavy snow and high winds to the mountainous regions. The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning for the area, citing unstable snow layers and gale-force winds.
This incident marks the deadliest avalanche in the U.S. since 1981. On average, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches annually across the United States.
