LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Several backcountry skiers were reported missing Tuesday following an avalanche in Nevada County in the U.S. state of California, local authorities said.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team, along with other local agencies, mobilized Tuesday morning after receiving reports of the avalanche in the Castle Peak area at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time.
"It has been reported that a group of back country skiers was involved in the incident, with several members of the party missing at this time," the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.
The incident occurred amid a major winter storm sweeping Northern California. Ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area reported more than two feet (about 60 centimeters) of snowfall as of midday Tuesday.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing. ■
