Four backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche in Utah on Saturday and four others were injured, authorities said.
The area was under a high avalanche hazard warning when authorities were called to the Mill Creek Canyon area outside Salt Lake City, Sgt. Melody Cutler of the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake.
One group of five skiers and another with three seemed to trigger an avalanche that buried all eight in the snow, she said, adding that some could dig themselves out and save others. But four did not survive.
“This is a terrible tragedy and our prayers go out to affected victims and families,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. tweeted. “We are grateful to the first responders and others involved in this rescue and recovery effort.”
According to the Utah Avalanche Center, it was the deadliest avalanche in the state since 1992, when a skier caused an avalanche that killed four in the Moab area.
Two other deadly avalanches occurred in Utah this year.
On Wednesday, emergency responders in Colorado recovered the bodies of three skiers buried in an avalanche.
