TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Recovery efforts are ongoing in the Sierra Nevada mountains following a fatal avalanche earlier this week. A Black Hawk helicopter flew to the area on Saturday as crews work to safely recover the bodies of those killed.
Avalanche Recovery Efforts Continue
Four individuals in brown cargo uniforms boarded the helicopter at Truckee, California, just before 10 a.m. On Saturday. Flight radar data indicates the helicopter spent approximately 90 minutes hovering near Frog Lake in the Castle Peak area, where the bodies of eight people were located on Tuesday. One person remains missing and is presumed dead.
Brutal weather conditions and the continued threat of avalanches have hampered the recovery process. The avalanche itself was described as roughly the size of a football field.
Officials began using water on Friday as a method of avalanche mitigation, a technique intended to intentionally release unstable snow and reduce risks for rescue crews.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s department stated on Saturday that the “victim recovery effort remains ongoing,” with a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Tuesday?
An avalanche occurred on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe, resulting in the deaths of eight people. One person remained missing as of Saturday.
What is being done to recover the bodies?
Crews are utilizing a Black Hawk helicopter and employing avalanche mitigation techniques, such as using water to destabilize the snowpack, to make the area safe for recovery efforts.
Which agencies are involved in the recovery effort?
The California Highway Patrol, Nevada County Sheriff’s search and rescue, Tahoe Nordic search and rescue, Pacific Gas & Electric, the Sierra avalanche center, and other agencies are participating in the recovery effort.
As the recovery effort continues, conditions in the Sierra Nevada could further impact the timeline for locating and retrieving the remaining victim.
