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Four Killed in Two Northwest B.C. Avalanches

Authorities are investigating safety practices following the slides.

Overview

  • Two avalanches in northwest B.C., which struck Sunday, killed three heli‑ski guests near Terrace and another skier near the B.C.–Alaska border.
  • Avalanche Canada reported the Atlin‑area slide was triggered by the fourth skier in a group of five, and one person who was buried about 1.5 metres deep did not survive.
  • White Wilderness Heliskiing said the Mount Knauss victims were fully buried, located by transceiver search and deployed airbags, and all four were dug out within about 15 minutes.
  • The three people who died on Mount Knauss were Swiss nationals on a commercial tour, the company confirmed, and it suspended operations as the injured guide underwent surgery in Vancouver.
  • RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service opened investigations, and WorkSafeBC launched a workplace probe and warned employers to assess avalanche hazards, as forecasters kept a “considerable” danger rating tied to wind slabs and buried weak layers from recent storms.