Four people died in two avalanches that hit near a ski resort in the northwestern US state of Washington, US authorities confirmed.
The first incident took place on Sunday near Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains in northeast of Seattle.
Though there were media reports of eight others missing, office spokeswoman Kathleen Larson said they had “managed to dig themselves out of the snow.”
However, three skiers who were part of the same group, did not make it out alive. CPR procedures to revive them had been unsuccessful.
Officials said the group was skiing in a restricted, avalanche-prone area that was marked by clear signs warning people of the danger.
Meanwhile, a second avalanche hit the ski resort of Alpental, burying a snowboarder, officials said. The man was did not survive either.
On Sunday, the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center on Sunda had issued a warning about “high avalanche danger” above 5,000 feet (1,500 meters), and a “considerable” danger below that elevation.
(AFP 20-02-2012)
