On Saturday, four skiers were killed and four others were injured, as an avalanche took place in a popular recreation area, making it one of the deadliest avalanches in Utah history, authorities said.
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The Unified Police Department was alerted to the avalanche about 11:40 a.m. after receiving a faint distress call from an avalanche beacon in Millcreek Canyon, according to local media reports.
Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler told the Salt Lake Tribune that the skier-triggered avalanche swept up eight people in their early twenties to late thirties who were in two groups touring the backcountry.
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All eight skiers had avalanche beacons, the department told the KSTU TV station.
The survivors were able to dig themselves out of the snow and ice; however, their medical conditions are unknown, according to the department’s statement.
They found the other four and were able to dig them out but they were already dead, the department added.
Search and rescue teams from several agencies are working to recover the bodies. The victims’ names have not yet been revealed.
Drew Hardesty with the Utah Avalanche Center told the Tribune that the victims were experienced skiers who were well known in the community.
“The UAC, WBR, and SLC is asking people to avoid the accident site in order to maintain a safe environment for those conducting the SAR and the investigation,” the Utah Avalanche Center said in a tweet.
The center had called the avalanche risk in the area “high.” It tweeted a warning that there was “High Danger. Large natural avalanches overnight. Dangerous avalanche conditions. Keep it low angle.”
A total of 20 people nationwide have died in avalanches during the 2020-2021 season, 16 of which were skiers or snowboarders, the Tribune reported.
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