The bodies of all nine victims from a major avalanche near Castle Peak in California's Tahoe National Forest have been recovered, following a winter storm that complicated rescue efforts. Separately, two more deaths in Austrian avalanches on Saturday brought the total fatalities in Austria since Friday to seven.
Key points
- The California victims included seven women and two men, aged 30 to 52, among them three mountain guides.
- The group of 15 skiers was returning from a guided three-day tour when a large slab of snow broke loose.
- Austrian fatalities included a 21-year-old Slovak skiing without safety gear and a 41-year-old Austrian who died after rescue.
- Twenty-four people have died in Austrian avalanches this winter season.
- Authorities are investigating the California incident, which occurred despite warnings from the Sierra Avalanche Center.
Why it matters
These incidents highlight the severe dangers posed by recent heavy snowfall in mountainous regions, leading to multiple fatalities across two continents.
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