1 killed, more feared dead and injured after avalanche near Invermere, B.C. | 24CA News
At least one particular person was killed in an avalanche whereas heli-skiing close to the mountain ski resort of Panorama alongside the Alberta-B.C. border, RCMP confirmed Wednesday night.
Emergency crews responded round 12:40 p.m. to reviews of a slide that occurred round midday, the southeast district officer for B.C. RCMP instructed Global News.
“Initial report is that multiple people, who had been heli-skiing in the area, may have been caught up by the avalanche,” James Grandy mentioned.
RCMP couldn’t say if there have been extra victims or how many individuals had been concerned within the avalanche. As of Wednesday night, police had been nonetheless working to find out who all was concerned and the place they’re from.
Police mentioned quite a few emergency sources, together with help from search and rescue, police canine companies and frontline RCMP officers, responded to the world.
The Mayor of Invermere mentioned a number of folks had been killed and a number of other extra injured. Al Miller additionally instructed Global News the precise variety of deaths was nonetheless unknown.
RK Heliski, the corporate concerned within the incident, mentioned 9 visitors and one information had been caught within the slide, which occurred close to the Panorama Mountain Resort, about 30 kilometres southwest of Invermere.
B.C. Emergency Health Services mentioned it was known as at 11:45 a.m. concerning the slide.
Four ambulances had been deployed to fulfill helicopters at Invermere, and transported 4 sufferers to hospital, it mentioned.
The severity of their accidents and whether or not anybody else was unaccounted for stays unclear.
Avalanche Canada confirmed preliminary reviews of a slide close to Invermere, however mentioned it didn’t have additional info.
The group presently lists the hazard score within the area’s alpine as “considerable.”
“Steer clear of freshly wind loaded features. Wind slabs are expected to remain reactive to human triggers,” Avalanche Canada mentioned on its web site.
“Avoid thin and rocky start zones, especially in the alpine and upper treeline where deeply buried weak layers remain concerning.”
British Columbia is within the midst of one in every of its deadliest avalanche seasons in years, with 9 fatalities already reported for the reason that new yr.
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