Two people swept up in an avalanche in southeast B.C. have been pulled out alive and rescue crews continue their search after witnesses reported several others may have been caught up in the slide.
RCMP Cpl. Grant Simpson said a "significant" avalanche occurred Sunday afternoon at an out-of-bounds ski area close to the Panorama ski resort.
He says reports from several witnesses vary on how many people, if any, may have been buried by the snow.
"It's frustrating," Simpson said.
One of the reports came from one of the two people caught up in the slide.
"From what we're getting out of her is that it was just her and her friend, or partner. But there were other witnesses that said they saw five people in the bowl and another witness figured there were 12, but it's hard to say at this point."
"I don't think we've got 12 in there, just because it's an area that's out of bounds."
Simpson said it's difficult to know how to proceed. But they have RCMP members, volunteers, search and rescue crews, the local fire department and three search dogs all taking part in the search.
The avalanche occurred just a few kilometres south of the Panorama Mountain Summit, just outside the boundaries of the ski resort.
Chris Elder, the director of sales and marketing at Panarama Mountain Village, said several patrol teams from the mountain helped in the search.
Elder said there are many warnings of the dangers to skiers and boarders about leaving the resort boundaries.
"On those high traffic areas we do indicate that if they're leaving the boundaries they need to be trained and prepared. That means understanding the terrain, understanding the current avalanche conditions."
The Canadian Avalanche Centre has been warning for a month that conditions are ripe for large snow slides in many areas of the province. The rating in the area where Sunday's avalanche took place was set at considerable.
