Teams recover 9th body after avalanche in California; total number of deaths reaches nine

Avalanche kills nine skiers in the United States Rescue teams recovered this Saturday (21) the body of the last skier who remained missing after the avalanche that hit a group on Castle Peak, in northern California. This brings the total number of deaths in the tragedy recorded on Tuesday (17) to nine. The bodies of eight victims had previously been located, but the evacuation was suspended for several days due to heavy snowfall and the risk of new landslides in the Sierra Nevada mountain region. According to Nevada County authorities, a search team confirmed the location of the ninth victim, who had been presumed dead since the day of the accident. Image provided by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office shows members of a rescue team in Soda Springs, California, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Nevada County Sheriff’s Office via AP Air Operation and Flight Restrictions On Saturday morning, a Black Hawk helicopter flew over the Frog Lake area, near the avalanche site. Radar data indicated that the aircraft remained in the region for approximately 90 minutes before returning to Truckee Airport. A temporary flight restriction, which prohibits drones and other unauthorized aircraft from flying over the area, was extended until 5pm on Sunday (22), as a security measure. Authorities also reported that they used water to cause the controlled release of unstable snow — a mitigation technique that reduces the risk of new avalanches before rescue teams arrive. The California Highway Patrol, Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams, the Sierra Avalanche Center, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Pacific Gas & Electric and other agencies participated in the operation. Cars covered in snow during a blizzard on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Truckee, California. AP/Brooke Hess-Homeier Group made an off-piste crossing The group was made up of 15 skiers who made a three-day crossing of off-piste (backcountry) skiing in a remote area. Among the dead were six women, described as close friends and experienced skiers, as well as three professional guides. Six other members of the expedition survived the avalanche, considered the deadliest recorded in the United States since 1981. The avalanche, estimated by authorities to be approximately the size of a football field, occurred amid a severe winter storm that was hitting California, with heavy snow, strong winds and conditions considered particularly dangerous for remote areas. VALE: infographic shows the place where skiers disappeared after an avalanche in California, in the USA Editoria de Arte/g1 Remember the case The avalanche occurred at around 11:30 am local (4:30 pm in Brasília) on Tuesday (17), at Castle Peak, one of the most popular peaks for off-piste skiing in the Tahoe National Forest region, close to Lake Tahoe. The group of 15 skiers was on the last day of a three-day crossing in a remote area. Emergency crews were called after a 911 call reporting people trapped in the middle of a severe winter storm hitting California. The extreme conditions — with rapid accumulation of snow on fragile layers and intense winds — made rescue difficult and increased the risk of new landslides.

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