Crews Battle Brutal Conditions to Recover Avalanche Victims in California

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A Black Hawk helicopter flew to the snowy, mountainous region of California's Sierra Nevada on Saturday where a fatal avalanche struck earlier this week, as crews continue efforts to make the area safe enough to recover the bodies of the eight people killed. Brutal weather and the threat of more avalanches have hampered recovery efforts so far.

Why it matters

Avalanches in the Sierra Nevada mountains are a serious threat, with the region seeing several deadly incidents in recent years. The recovery efforts highlight the dangers faced by search and rescue teams operating in these harsh, wintry conditions.

The details

The avalanche, roughly the size of a football field, struck on Tuesday, killing eight people. One person remains missing and is presumed dead. Crews have been using water to break up the snow in the area as avalanche mitigation work, in an effort to reduce the risk when rescue teams go in. The recovery efforts have involved multiple agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, Nevada County Sheriff's search and rescue, and the Sierra avalanche center.

• The avalanche occurred on Tuesday.
• A Black Hawk helicopter flew to the site on Saturday morning.
• A temporary flight restriction over the avalanche site has been extended to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Officials have said they will continue using avalanche mitigation techniques to make the area safe enough for crews to recover the remaining victims.