Authorities reported that eight skiers were discovered dead and one individual is missing following a significant avalanche that occurred on February 17 in California, USA. The skiers were part of a larger group of 15, which included four guides, who were caught in the avalanche, while six members of the party were rescued alive. The avalanche took place at Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada, close to Lake Tahoe, a well-known tourist destination.

During a press conference, Shannan Moon, the sheriff and public administrator of Nevada County, suggested that the missing individual is presumed dead, bringing the total death toll to nine. The group that faced this tragic incident consisted of nine women and six men, and among the survivors, there are two women and four men, resulting in a grim statistic of seven women and one man confirmed deceased.

The response efforts from local authorities were immediate, with a race against time to locate the missing skier. This event underscores the dangers of winter sports, especially in avalanche-prone regions, where conditions can change rapidly, placing skiers at risk. The incident has brought attention to safety protocols and communication among skiers in such remote areas, especially during tourist seasons.