Utah avalanche ‘kills FOUR people’ after officials warned of ‘high danger’ because of recent snowstorms
A UTAH avalanche killed four people on Saturday, officials said, after people were warned of "high danger" in the area due to recent snowstorms.
Police revealed a total of four people died and four survived the avalanche in Millcreek Canyon's Alexander Basin, local news station KSTU reported.
"The four that were alive were able to self-extricate themselves and dig out the others," Brian Schee, of KSTU, . "All of them were skiers."
It has been reported that all eight people, ranging in their early 20s to late 30s, had beacons – a fire or light set up as a warning signal.
Life Flight helicopters were sent to the scene in after rescue workers received word of the avalanche at around 11.40am local time.
Unified Police Department Sgt Melody Cutler revealed the avalanche took place in Millcreek Canyon's backcountry region, specifically the Wilson Basin area, in an area unconnected to any near by ski resorts, reported.
The eight skiers triggered the avalanche, according to Cutler, who said the survivors suffered only minor injuries.
Cutler told the ABC affiliate: "There's been advisories out recently about the very high avalanche danger that exists with the current conditions.
"This is a very unfortunate circumstance with these conditions."
Shortly before the avalanche, the Utah Avalanche Center out a warning.
It read: "High Danger. Large natural avalanches overnight. Dangerous avalanche conditions.
"Keep it low angle. #utavy pcStetson."
The National Weather Service for Salt Lake City an earlier warning, which read: "The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center has issued a Backcountry Avalanche Warning in effect through 6 AM MST Sunday for the mountains of northern Utah."
An initial report by the UPD said give people were possibly buried and their conditions were unknown.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox took to social media on Saturday evening to comment on the "terrible tragedy" – which is Utah's third fatal avalanche of the year.
Cox : "Our prayers go out to the victims and families involved.
"We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort.
"With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution."
Earlier this week, a 57-year-old man died after being
Kurt Damschroder, from Park City, Utah, was killed after he was caught up in the disaster, according to Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez in a on February 1.
Damschroder and another skier are thought to have triggered the avalanche in an area known as Square Top, away from the resort boundaries near the Park City Mountain Canyons Village resort.
The second skier was able to dig to Damschroder and "attempted lifesaving efforts" but was forced to leave because of dangerous conditions, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
"The extreme avalanche danger prevented rescuers from getting into the area before nightfall," the sheriff's office said.
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The first week of February saw another avalanch in the same area, according to The Utah Avalanche Center: "Avalanche debris went over 1,000ft down the base of the slope."
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"Square has been a sleeping giant waiting for someone to step out and take a ride and today it finally happened. The slide went the entire length of the slope funneling down as it usually does.
"This skier got lucky and was able to get out and avoid a very long and rocky ride."