A deadly avalanche struck near the Alta area on Saturday afternoon, leaving one person dead and another rescued from the mountain.
According to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the avalanche occurred around 12:45 p.m. on February 8. The two individuals caught in the slide were both men in their 50s. While one tragically did not survive, the other was safely removed from the mountain. However, details about their condition remain unclear.
Avalanche Risk Was High
The Utah Avalanche Center had issued warnings for several areas in the state, citing considerable to high avalanche danger on Saturday.
- High danger signals very hazardous conditions, making travel in avalanche-prone areas strongly discouraged.
- Considerable danger means human-triggered avalanches are likely, and natural avalanches can occur.
The center warns that most avalanche fatalities happen during “considerable danger” levels, as this is when people are most likely to be in high-risk areas.
Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the avalanche, and no further details are available at this time.
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