8 skiers die, 1 hurt in California avalanche

International

EIGHT persons died when a football field-sized avalanche struck a group coming back from the three-day backcountry ski trip at Castle Peal area in California on Feb. 17.

The group consists of 11 recreational skiers and four ski guides, a report by BBC said.

According to Sierra Avalanche Center, the avalanche rated D2.5, which means large and destructive.

According to Sheriff Moon, two out of six survivors sustained a non-life-threatening injuries from avalanche and were taken to hospital.

One of the six survivors was the tour guide and five were clients of the Blackbird Mountain guided tour.

The rescuers found the body eight skiers who went missing, as they searched through the backcountry of California's Lake Tahoe.

In a news conference on Wednesday Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon stated that, though there is still one skier who has not yet been found but that person is already presumed dead.

According to officials, the victims are seven women and two men.

Families has already been notified and names have not yet been released but once recovered the bodies will be transported to the Placer County morgue.

The bodies of the eight skiers, are still trapped and still not yet been recovered due to "pretty horrific" condition because aside from the avalanche , another 3ft (.9m) of snow has fallen in the area making the rescue operation dangerous, according to officials.

Sheriff Woo describes the climate as "treacherous" as conditions on Wednesday remained dangerous as per officials.

The rescue operation was from joint effort which involve two teams and consist of 50 crew members who operate under "extreme weather conditions" using special equipment.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office said on X that state and local authorities are working together on a full search-and-rescue effort.(Iah Jennil M. Mirarza, BiPSU Comm Intern)