Eight lifeless in avalanche in California | EUROtoday

As of: February 19, 2026 12:24 a.m

During a storm in California, a gaggle of skiers have been swept away by an avalanche – eight individuals have been now discovered lifeless. The investigators wish to verify why the tour befell regardless of the climate.

Eight beforehand lacking skiers have been discovered lifeless after an avalanche in northern California. Another member of the group continues to be lacking, authorities mentioned. California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke of a “horrific tragedy.”

The accident occurred late Tuesday morning (native time) on Castle Peak within the Sierra Nevada northeast of the town of Sacramento. A bunch of 15 individuals have been swept away by the avalanche. Six skiers have been injured and two of them have been taken to hospital for remedy.

Extreme climate circumstances within the mountains made the rescue operation, which lasted a number of hours, tough. The greater than 50 rescue employees concerned needed to struggle their technique to the victims in stormy circumstances, who have been trapped by snow and ice.

Tour operator in sight

The group was on a three-day tour, in accordance with meteorologist Steve Reynaud from the Sierra Avalanche Center. The individuals needed to overcome “rough, mountainous terrain”.

California is being hit by a extreme winter storm this week. It brings thunderstorms, robust winds and heavy snowfalls within the mountainous areas. According to the Sierra Avalanche Center within the Tahoe National Forest in Truckee, avalanche hazard is excessive within the central Sierra Nevada. Sheriff Shannan Moon mentioned investigators needed to look at the choice to permit the tour to go forward regardless of forecasts of continued dangerous climate.

The victims, together with three mountain guides, have been discovered shut to one another. The lifeless and the lacking particular person have been seven ladies and two males between the ages of 30 and 55. Due to the acute circumstances, emergency providers haven’t but been capable of get the victims off the mountain, Moon defined.

Worst avalanche accident within the USA since 1981

All individuals on the tour carried transmitters that helped the rescuers find them. At least one of many mountain guides was additionally capable of ship a textual content message. While they waited for rescue, the survivors tried to guard themselves as a lot as potential from the freezing temperatures.

The avalanche catastrophe was the worst within the United States since 1981, when eleven mountaineers died on Mount Rainier in Washington state.