Five snowmobilers were killed Friday in a major avalanche east of McBride, according to McBride RCMP.
The slide happened in the Renshaw area around 1:30 p.m. RCMP said three separate groups of snowmobilers were in the area at the time.
Police were first notified by the activation of two emergency GPS beacons, at which point they activated Robson Valley Search and Rescue. One helicopter was dispatched as well.
Two search and rescue members were on scene almost immediately as they had been snowmobiling in the area just before the slide.
"They quickly determined there were several persons that were buried," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. "Unfortunately, five snowmobilers are deceased as a result of the avalanche. Their remains have been recovered from the avalanche area."
Rescue crews and paramedics worked through the afternoon and evening to remove people from the area and to tend to the injured.
Six to eight people who had lost their snowmobiles were shuttled off the mountain.
According to BC Ambulance Service, three ground ambulances were sent to the scene and one person was transported to hospital in stable condition.
As of Friday evening, McBride RCMP members were interviewing people who had come off the mountain and making inquiries in the community to confirm that everyone was accounted for, Moskaluk said.