An avalanche has buried three Americans skiers under snow of 40 feet or more. The avalanche struck in the Alaska backcountry near Girdwood, a small resort town, late Tuesday afternoon, March 4, local time.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers said an avalanche buried three skiers under a blanket of snow between 40 and 100 feet deep in a small resort town.

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.