Deadly Avalanche Kills Five People in British Columbia

Five snowmobilers are dead after an avalanche struck their party on Friday in British Columbia, Canada.

“This involves a very large avalanche that hit this afternoon in an area where a group of snowmobilers were snowmobiling about 20 km from McBride”, McLinktock said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating, the AP said.

Two other people were injured, but their condition is unknown.

The McBride RCMP then activated the Robson Valley Search and Rescue Team.

McBride is about 210 kilometres southeast of Prince George.

One helicopter was dispatched to the area to assist, and two search and rescue technicians were on scene nearly immediately as they were snowmobiling in the area just prior to the slide occurring, police said.

Avalanche Canada says the backcountry near McBride can be treacherous, and the combination of wind, rain and snow over the past few days have created significant stress on the layers of snowpack.

Above-normal temperatures covered the region ahead of Friday’s avalanche, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde said. “Please be cautious this weekend”.