Five snowmobilers are dead after an avalanche erupted in the western Canadian province of British Columbia near the town of McBride, British Columbia's coroner's service announced Friday, reported The Herald Sun. Local authorities say that the avalanche occurred around 1 p.m. PT in the Mount Renshaw area, located between Mount Pauline and The Blackwater Tusk, as well as Mount Monroe, in an area where at least three groups of people were snowmobiling.
Authorities were alerted to the scene after two separate GPS beacons activated, prompting them to dispatch a helicopter to the area, which determined that an avalanche had occurred.
"One helicopter was dispatched to the area to assist, and quickly confirmed that the incident was involving an avalanche and snowmobilers," The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, according to CTV News.
On top of the five snowmobilers whose bodies were recovered, responders rescued up to eight other people who got caught in the snowslide. They were transported off the mountain, but its unclear what injuries they suffered, if any.
Karl Klassen of Avalanche Canada said that all evidence indicates that the avalanche was man-made.
"There are layers of concern in the snowpack in many parts of this region (and others) and a fairly significant weather event added rain and snow to the snowpack over the last few days followed by clearing and cooling today," he said, according to The Globe And Mail.
"This may have produced stresses in the snowpack capable of producing large avalanches and this condition could take several days to settle and bond," Klassen added.
In the meantime, Klassen is warning people to be cautious of future incidents over the weekend.
