AVALANCHE AT CALIFORNIA SKI RESORT CLAIMS ONE LIFE
PALISADES TAHOE, California (CNN) — Tragedy struck the Palisades Tahoe ski resort in the Lake Tahoe, California, area on Wednesday morning when an avalanche claimed at least one life and injured another. The avalanche occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. and prompted a massive search and rescue effort by multiple teams.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the deadly incident and reported that the avalanche had left a debris field around 45 meters wide, 137 meters long, and 3 meters deep. The resort, which is a popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts, immediately closed for the day as the search and rescue efforts were underway.
More than 100 personnel from Palisades Tahoe took part in the search, and two probe lines were completed to locate potential victims. As of now, no other disappearances have been reported, according to the sheriff’s office. A winter storm warning in the area has heightened the risk of avalanches, with expected snow accumulations of 70 to 76 centimeters in the resort area.
The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued a warning about increasing avalanche danger throughout the day. Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement, ensuring that the state is monitoring the situation and is prepared to assist with the reported avalanche at Palisades Tahoe.
The California Fire Department responded to the initial reports of “several people trapped” in the avalanche. A video posted on social media showed a skier being pulled out of the snow by others, with no apparent serious injuries.
This is a developing story, and authorities are continuing to monitor the situation at the ski resort as the day unfolds.