2 people are dead after getting trapped under an avalanche they accidentally triggered

VAIL, Colorado — Two snowmobilers in Colorado were killed after they were buried in an avalanche they accidentally triggered Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said Sunday.

A third person who was snowmobiling with the group in the area of Muddy Pass, north of Vail, was able to free himself and alert authorities, according to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office. The backcountry avalanche forecast in Eagle County is rated considerable, meaning dangerous avalanche conditions were reported in the area.

The avalanche happened below the tree line at an elevation of around 9,800 feet, the avalanche information center said.

Rescue efforts Saturday were suspended overnight because of dangerous weather conditions and for the safety of rescue teams, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jessie Porter told CNN.

Multiple agencies including the Colorado Avalanche Information Center were involved in the search for the two snowmobilers. Their bodies were recovered Sunday.

In the past three days, the avalanche information center said it received 20 reports of natural and human-triggered avalanches “large enough to kill a person” and “snap trees in half.”

“You can trigger very large, very dangerous avalanches that break near the ground. These avalanches are very difficult to predict and you will not see any warning signs of instability before this type of avalanche breaks,” the center said Saturday.

“The way to stay safe if you are traveling in the Northern and Central Mountains over the next few days is to avoid slopes steeper than about 30 degrees.”

As snowstorms pile on top of each other throughout the winter months, the snow’s consistency may change and become unstable and dangerous. Backcountry travelers are urged to analyze the layers of snow and test their stability before skiing or snowmobiling.