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Five Snowmobilers Dead After Getting Caught in an Avalanche

A deadly avalanche in McBride has left five people dead.

At around 1:30 p.m. on Friday January 29th, it was reported to McBride RCMP that two separate GPS beacon activations in the Renshaw area had been deployed.

Renshaw is located just east of McBride near the B.C./ Alberta border.

<who> Photo Credit: Google Maps

It was quickly confirmed by Search and Rescue that the incident was involving an avalanching and snowmobilers. Robson Valley Search and Rescue were notified and one helicopter was dispatched to the area.

Three separate groups of snowmobilers had been caught in the avalanche, leaving a total of five people dead, McBride RCMP confirmed.

Two Search and Rescue members were on the scene immediately after the call came into RCMP, as they had been snowmobiling in the area prior to the slide.

“As of 6:00 pm the McBride RCMP is able to confirm that 5 snowmobilers are deceased and have been recovered from the avalanche area,” said Cpt Dan Moskaluk of McBride RCMP.

<who> Photo Credit: Kamloops Search and Rescue

“Several snowmobiling groups were in the area at the time. Efforts by the RCMP and SAR are continuing in making a determination that all other snowmobilers that were in the area are accounted for. 6 to 8 other snowmobilers lost snowmobiles in the avalanche and are being shuttled off of the mountain.”

McBride RCMP will be holding a news conference Saturday to update the situation.



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