3 snowmobilers dead after avalanche in Quebec's Chic-Choc Mountains
Three Quebec snowmobilers are dead following an avalanche in the Chic-Choc Mountains on the province's Gaspé Penninsula.
Quebec provincial police received a distress call at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday by a group of snowmobilers in the La Martre sector, near Mont Médaille. An avalanche had taken place and three snowmobilers were missing.
Authorities launched a ground search operation. Firefighters from nearby Sainte-Anne-des-Monts along with ambulance crews were dispatched to support the provincial police's avalanche team.
The three snowmobilers, who were in their 30s and from the Eastern Townships, were found around 11 p.m. They were transported to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Provincial police say an investigation is underway following the death of three snowmobilers. The Chic-Chocs are about 40 kilometres from the St. Lawrence River. The range is about 95 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide. (Jean-François Deschênes/Radio-Canada)
According to Avalanche Québec's daily bulletin, avalanche risk was considered moderate in alpine areas on Tuesday, with increased danger in certain sectors of the Chic-Chocs.
In these conditions, avalanches can occur in isolated areas or could be triggered by human intervention, according to the website.
An investigation is underway, said Frédéric Deshaies, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.
"Investigators as well as forensic technicians are on site to identify the causes and circumstances surrounding this event," said Deshaies.
WATCH: The Science Behind the Weather: Avalanches
This article, written by Rachel Watts, was originally published for CBC News.
