Arabic version: انهيار ثلجي مأساوي يودي بحياة ثمانية متزلجين في بحيرة تاهو

Rescue teams in California’s Lake Tahoe region have discovered the bodies of eight skiers who went missing following a devastating avalanche on Tuesday. The avalanche, described as being the size of a football field, struck the Castle Peak area around 11:30 PST (19:30 GMT), prompting a swift response from local authorities. According to BBC News, one of the deceased was the spouse of a member of the search-and-rescue team, adding an emotional layer to the already challenging recovery efforts.

Initially, 15 skiers were reported missing after the avalanche, but six have since been rescued. The search for the final missing skier continues, although that individual is presumed dead. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon confirmed the ongoing efforts at a news conference on Wednesday, emphasizing the emotional toll on the rescue teams involved.

Sheriff Moon noted that the bodies of the deceased skiers remain trapped in the snow due to “pretty horrific” conditions, with an additional three feet of snow having fallen since the avalanche. Tahoe National Forest supervisor Chris Feutrier warned that the hazard level remains high, complicating recovery operations. Once conditions improve, the bodies will be transported to the Placer County morgue for identification.

The rescue operation involved approximately 50 crew members from two teams who had to navigate extreme weather conditions to reach the area where survivors were sheltering. Two of the six survivors were carried back to safety due to injuries sustained during the avalanche, although their injuries are not life-threatening. Among the survivors were a guide and five clients from the Blackbird Mountain guided tour.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has been coordinating search-and-rescue efforts with local emergency services. Officials have urged the public to avoid backcountry areas to allow rescuers to focus on recovery efforts. The avalanche has been rated as a D2.5 on the destructive potential scale, indicating significant danger in the area, which has also led to the closure of several highways, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50.