Ski avalanche

Authorities have confirmed that two are dead and up to eight are missing after an avalanche near a Washington state ski resort.

Sgt Cindi West of King County sheriff’s department says her office heard about the avalanche near Stevens Pass, in the Cascade Mountains northeast of Seattle, after noon yesterday and rescue teams were en route.

She said the deaths occurred in an out-of-bounds area.

Warnings for high avalanche danger for areas above 5,000 feet were issued yesterday.

West said a snowboarder had been killed in a separate incident at the Alpental ski area, east of Seattle. The snowboarder went over a cliff.