Frog lake: Rescue teams are continuing operations to reach six skiers trapped in a rugged mountainous terrain in northern California, US, following an avalanche in the Frog Lake area near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada. Meanwhile, ten others remain missing amid harsh weather conditions.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office said that the incident was reported to emergency services following an avalanche during a severe winter storm in the area. Search teams later located six skiers alive and instructed them to remain in place until rescuers could reach them.

Nevada County Sheriff Russell Green stated that the skiers were able to communicate with authorities via emergency locator devices, noting that they had set up temporary shelters using protective covers. Operations are proceeding with extreme caution due to the ongoing risk of further avalanches.

The winter storm has forced the full or partial closure of several ski resorts in the area and caused widespread disruptions on major roads, including a temporary halt to traffic on the highway near the Nevada border.

Data from the National Avalanche Center indicate that between 25 and 30 people die annually in the United States due to such incidents, while the same area recorded a fatality last January following a similar avalanche.