Rescuers Continue Search for 9 Missing After Truckee Avalanche

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Nine skiers remained unaccounted for Wednesday morning, a day after a backcountry avalanche near Truckee overcame a group of 15. The remaining six people were rescued Tuesday evening almost twelve hours after the slide was reported. The incident occurred in the Castle Peak area, where a snowmobiler died in a similar slide at the start of the year and where three other fatal avalanches have happened since 2012.

Why it matters

Avalanches in the Truckee and Lake Tahoe region are an ongoing concern, with several deadly incidents in recent years. This latest avalanche highlights the dangers of backcountry skiing and the importance of proper safety precautions and preparedness.

The details

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is expected to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning to provide an update on search and rescue efforts. Meanwhile, the California Department of Transportation said Wednesday morning that eastbound Interstate 80 was expected to reopen around noon, while westbound I-80 was open to vehicle traffic but closed to trucks. Highway 50 was open in both directions.

• The incident occurred on Tuesday.
• The remaining six people were rescued Tuesday evening, almost twelve hours after the slide was reported.
• An avalanche warning remained in effect until Thursday morning in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains between highways 49 and 4.

What’s next

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is expected to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning to provide an update on search and rescue efforts.