British News Agency

According to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, the avalanche was reported at around 11:30 a.m. local time in the Castle Peak area near the town of Truckee.

The group of 16 consisted of four guides and 12 clients. Weather conditions remain dangerous, and the likelihood of additional avalanches is high.

The sheriff said “highly skilled rescue ski teams” were deployed from two nearby ski resorts. The sheriff added that the six known survivors were instructed to “shelter in place as conditions allow.”

In a statement posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff said, “At least six skiers survived the avalanche and remained in the avalanche area awaiting rescue; the remaining ten skiers, at the time of this statement, have not yet been located.”

The sheriff also said, “A SnoCat team was also deployed,” referring to tracked vehicles used to travel over snow and typically used at ski resorts for grooming operations.

Experts from the nearby Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center are also trying to reach the area.

The statement said, “Rescue operations are currently ongoing with 46 emergency first response teams. Weather conditions remain extremely hazardous.”

Due to high winds and low visibility, the ski resort decided to close on Tuesday.

The storm also shut down many highways, including Interstate 80 and Highway 50.