Rescue teams searching the backcountry of California’s Lake Tahoe area have recovered the bodies of eight skiers who were reported missing after an avalanche earlier this week.
Efforts are ongoing to locate a ninth skier, though that individual is presumed dead, Shannan Moon said during a news conference on Wednesday.
Authorities confirmed that one of the victims was the spouse of a member of the search-and-rescue team, a factor officials said has made the operation “challenging emotionally”.
A total of 15 skiers were initially reported missing on Tuesday after a “football-field”-sized avalanche swept through the Castle Peak area at approximately 11:30 PST (19:30 GMT). Six people were later rescued.
“I want to offer my condolences to the family in this very trying time,” Wayne Woo said on Wednesday.
Officials said the bodies of the eight deceased skiers remain buried in deep snow and cannot yet be recovered due to what were described as “pretty horrific” conditions.
An additional 3ft (0.9m) of snow has fallen in the area since the avalanche, according to Chris Feutrier of the Tahoe National Forest.
“The hazard remains high,” he said.
Once conditions allow, the bodies will be transported to the Placer County morgue.
Families of the victims have been notified, though authorities have not released any names.
Officials said the victims include seven women and two men.
Sheriff Woo said the rescue operation involved two teams and approximately 50 personnel, all of whom were required to traverse “extreme weather conditions” using specialised equipment.
Search teams reached a staging point around 17:30 local time on Tuesday, approximately two miles (3.2km) from where survivors had taken shelter in makeshift tents, and were forced to ski in from that location.
Two of the six survivors were unable to walk due to injuries sustained in the avalanche and had to be carried out, Sheriff Moon said. Both were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Among the survivors were one guide and five clients from the Blackbird Mountain guided tour.
The group consisted of 11 recreational skiers and four ski guides.
Officials said the avalanche occurred as the group was returning at the end of a three-day backcountry trip.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said in a post on X that state authorities were “co-ordinating an all-hands search-and-rescue effort” alongside local emergency services.
Conditions on Wednesday remained dangerous, officials said, with Sheriff Woo describing the environment as “treacherous”.
“Avoid the back country,” he said. “Please allow us to focus all of our resources on continuing to recover these bodies for the family and bring them home.”
According to the Sierra Avalanche Center, the avalanche was rated D2.5 on a destructive potential scale ranging from D1 to D5, indicating it stretched more than half a mile and left debris deposits of up to 6.5ft (2 metres).
Nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort reported receiving more than 30in (76cm) of snowfall since Tuesday and closed operations due to high winds and low visibility.
The storm system has also forced the closure of several major highways, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50.
