There were two people Saved in Utah On Tuesday, officials said, after an avalanche buried a snowmobile cat they were in in the countryside.
Morgan County Fire and EMS said in a statement that the slide occurred around 12:30 p.m. in the Gold Ridge area of Morgan County.
The snowcat reportedly caused the avalanche and drifted through a group of trees before capsizing Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) said.
Search and rescue teams reached the area within the hour and extracted a person trapped under the snowcat using “jaws of life”, chainsaws and other heavy equipment.
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Rescuers said one individual was buried under the snowcats and had to be rescued using “jaws of life” and power saws. (Morgan County Fire and EMS)
The trapped person was airlifted to the hospital along with a major leg injury, rescuers said. The other person sustained head injuries and was taken to hospital in stable condition by ambulance.
“Despite the difficult conditions and rough terrain, personnel worked diligently to ensure that everyone involved was safely rescued,” rescue officials said.
Both were injured and were taken to hospitals for treatment. (Morgan County Fire and EMS)
Rescuers reminded those who participate in winter outdoor activities to take proper precautions and always be prepared for the possibility of an avalanche.
“We encourage everyone to always check the weather and snow conditions, carry basic safety equipment, and stay within designated areas,” the statement said.
An avalanche swept away and buried two people in a snow cat in the Gold Ridge area of Morgan County, Utah, on Tuesday, officials said. (Morgan County Fire and EMS)
There was at least 21 deaths due to avalanche in the United States in the 2022 to 2023 season, according to a list of avalanche fatalities compiled by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. From 2021 to 2022, there were 17 deaths.
So far this season, avalanches have killed two people in Utah, including a snowmobile buried Monday in the Oquirrh Mountains, according to the UAC.
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The agency released a video on Monday showing the moment the so-called “powder cloud” fell. Mount Provo Timpanogos Towards a group of skiers at Sundance Resort.
The UAC said the avalanche is normal and came from the “middle finger” on the mountain.
“Avalanche debris stopped in the Dry Lakes area adjacent to the ski area, but the dust cloud persisted for hundreds of yards,” she said in a Facebook post.
FOX News’ Julia Mostow contributed to this report.