8 snowmobilers missing in Canadian avalanches

[dalajune]

FERNIE, British Columbia – Eight snowmobilers buried in avalanches were missing Monday in a western Canada's backcountry, and rescuers feared some of the men were killed by the falling snow.

Three other men from the group pulled themselves free Sunday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

With 27 inches of fresh snow in recent days, the risk of a new avalanche was high on Monday as rescuers backed by a helicopter prepared to continue their search.

The first avalanche buried a group of seven snowmobilers on Sunday afternoon in British Columbia's Elk Valley, about 550 miles east of Vancouver, the RCMP said.

Another group of four snowmobilers heard their shouts, hurried over and started digging when they were hit by a second avalanche.

Two men dug themselves out and then pulled a third man free. Fearing another avalanche was imminent, they started to walk out. Rescuers found them by their emergency communication devices.

At least some of those still missing were dead, said Jennifer Henkes, a spokeswoman for the Interior Health Authority.

"We know that the more time that goes by, we have to be realistic (in) that we know what happens in these type of situations," said Sgt. Tim Shields of the RCMP. "But we have hope."

The avalanche warning for the area was raised to "high" on Monday, said James Floyer, a forecaster with the Canadian Avalanche Center.

The center had described the popular backcountry area Sunday as "spooky" and able to generate avalanches easily capable of killing a person.

The avalanche center issued an alert Sunday saying mountain conditions in the region were "very touchy" because of a new snow combined with a weak snowpack.