Arabic version: انتهاء البحث بعد تحديد هوية آخر ضحية من انهيار ثلجي في بحيرة تاهو
The ninth and final missing skier has been found dead in California’s Lake Tahoe backcountry, five days after a powerful avalanche struck several guides and a tight-knit group of friends on a trip. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced during a news conference that all nine bodies have now been recovered from the Castle Peak area in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The victims included close friends, a pair of sisters, and three guides.
According to BBC News, the avalanche, described as the deadliest in modern California history, measured the size of a football field. Two individuals from the group managed to escape the disaster, and authorities hope they can provide insights into the events that unfolded.
Rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to harsh weather conditions, including white-out conditions that delayed searches. High winds also prevented the use of helicopters until conditions improved on Friday, allowing crews to deploy water to mitigate further avalanche risks before continuing the search.
The victims were confirmed as Carrie Atkin, 46, of Soda Springs, California; Lizabeth Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho; Danielle Keatley, 44, of Soda Springs and Larkspur, California; Kate Morse, 45, of Soda Springs and Tiburon, California; Caroline Sekar, 45, of Soda Springs and San Francisco, California; and Katherine Vitt, 43, of Greenbrae, California. The three guides who lost their lives were Andrew Alissandratos, 34, of Verdi, Nevada; Nicole Choo, 42, of South Lake Tahoe, California; and Michael Henry, 30, from Soda Springs. Six members of the 15-person ski group were rescued earlier in the week, as they attempted to return from a three-day guided ski trip when the avalanche struck.
Sheriff Moon expressed gratitude for being able to recover the bodies, stating, “While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful that we can bring them home.” The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating potential criminal negligence related to the avalanche incident.
