A trio of skiers is likely buried under an avalanche near Anchorage, Alaska, that occurred Tuesday afternoon, but dangerous backcountry conditions have so far stymied recovery operations, officials announced.

This is Alaska’s first fatal avalanche reported this season. It is also the country’s deadliest since February 2023.

Alaska State Troopers say three skiers who had flown by helicopter to a remote mountain range were swept away by an avalanche and likely killed under the weight of snow nearly as deep as a 10-story building.

Multiple heli-skiers were trapped in an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, on Tuesday afternoon, and a search effort is underway to rescue them despite deep snow complicating recovery efforts

The group was traveling with guides from a commercial heli-skiing operation, which escorts backcountry skiers via helicopter to the tops of mountains that are otherwise inaccessible.

Officials at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center have confirmed that three skiers on a heli-skiing tour died in an avalanche near Girdwood, Alaska, southeast of Anchorage, this week. The avalanche occurred on March 4 at about 3:30 pm.

Dangerous avalanche conditions in the area persist, stalling recovery efforts and prompting warnings from forecasters.