10 skiers unaccounted for after avalanche in Northern California

Ten skiers are unaccounted for following an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in Northern California, according to officials. Search and rescue teams have been deployed to the area.

The avalanche occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Castle Peak area near Truckee, west of Lake Tahoe along the Interstate 80 corridor, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. A group of 16 skiers encountered the slide while traveling in the backcountry.

The party consisted of four ski guides and 12 clients. Officials said six members of the group survived the avalanche and remained at the site, where they were instructed to shelter in place in hazardous weather. The remaining 10 were unaccounted for at the time of the latest update.

Search and rescue operations were underway with 46 emergency responders involved. Rescue ski teams have been deployed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center to reach the survivors.

The avalanche followed a powerful winter storm that moved through Nevada County. In a post issued a day earlier, county officials warned that snow levels could drop as low as 1,500 to 2,500 feet, with the heaviest snowfall and strongest winds expected Monday and Tuesday.

Authorities cautioned about downed trees, power outages and major travel impacts, and said mountain travel was highly discouraged.