Utah avalanche: Four skiers killed and Four injured
An avalanche killed four skiers and injured four others later on Saturday in a popular recreation area, making it one of the deadliest avalanches in Utah history, authorities said.
The avalanche occurred in a backcountry region of Millcreek Canyon. Eight skiers were in the area of Wilson Basin; when they triggered the avalanche, Sgt. Melody Cutler of Millcreek’s Unified Police Department said.
All eight were caught in the avalanche. A couple of skiers were able to dig themselves and the deceased skiers out, Cutler said.
The Utah Avalanche Center warned Saturday morning that there were “dangerous avalanche conditions” in the state.
The avalanche occurred at an altitude of 9,800 feet on a north-facing slope, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.
search and rescue teams from several agencies are working to recover the bodies.
Yet another massive avalanche caught on camera in the Utah backcountry yesterday 😢https://t.co/rx0Qpx3z6h pic.twitter.com/2xro4jBfbE
— Ben Cline (@yocline) February 7, 2021
Drew Hardesty with the Utah Avalanche Center told the Tribune that the victims, however, were experienced skiers.
“This is a terrible tragedy and our prayers go out to the victims and families involved,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said.
“We are grateful to the first responders and others who engaged in this rescue and recovery effort,” he added. “With avalanche danger high right now, please exercise extreme caution.”
“We are heartbroken over the tragic news of four fatalities as the result of an avalanche in the Millcreek Canyon area this afternoon,” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a statement. “We deeply mourn the loss of life due to this devastating incident.”
A total of 20 people nationwide has died in avalanches during the 2020-2021 season, 16 of which were skiers or snowboarders, the Tribune reported. On Thursday, the bodies of three men were located in the debris of an avalanche slide near Anchorage, Alaska.
