Rescuers battle blizzard to save lots of six skiers discovered trapped after avalanche within the Sierra Nevada mountains within the western US.
Printed On 18 Feb 2026
Rescue groups pushed via fierce blizzard situations to achieve six skiers trapped following a significant avalanche within the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains in California within the western United States.
9 different skiers from the identical group have been lacking, whereas the specter of extra avalanches remained excessive within the mountain vary in northern California amid a strong winter storm, the Nevada County sheriff’s workplace stated on Tuesday.
Beneficial Tales
listing of three gadgetsfinish of listing
“It’s going to be a gradual, tedious course of as a result of additionally they must be very cautious accessing the realm as a consequence of the truth that the avalanche hazard continues to be very excessive,” Captain Russell Greene of the sheriff’s workplace stated.
Rescue groups have but to achieve the avalanche website, he stated.
The stricken group consisted of ski guides and shoppers. No less than six survived the avalanche and stay on the website awaiting rescue, whereas the others have been unaccounted for, the sheriff’s workplace stated in an announcement.
The sheriff’s workplace stated Tuesday night time that there have been 15 skiers on the journey — not 16 as initially believed.
Greene stated authorities discovered of the avalanche via notifications from the ski tour firm guiding the group, in addition to activations from the emergency beacons carried by the skiers themselves.
Chatting with an area tv station, Greene famous that the six survivors have been in touch with officers through their beacons, which permit for textual content messaging.
“They’re doing the most effective they will,” he stated.
“They’ve taken refuge in an space, they’ve made up a makeshift shelter with a tarp and are doing every thing they will to outlive and watch for rescue,” he added.
The incident occurred within the Citadel Peak space close to Frog Lake, northwest of Lake Tahoe, the place search-and-rescue efforts involving dozens of responders going through excessive climate and excessive avalanche threat are below method, based on experiences.
California is being walloped this week by a strong winter storm bringing treacherous thunderstorms, robust winds and heavy snow in mountain areas.
A number of ski resorts round Lake Tahoe have absolutely or partially closed amid the relentless excessive climate and threats of avalanches.
The Nationwide Climate Service stated elements of the Sierra Nevada mountains above 3,500 ft (1,000 metres) may see as much as 8 ft (2.4 metres) of snow over the following 48 hours, with gusts of wind as robust as 55mph (88km/h).
