Three skiers feared dead after avalanche in Alaska

The avalanche happened late Tuesday afternoon near Girdwood. Picture: Mark Thiessen/AP

Three skiers who had flown by helicopter to a remote mountain range were swept away by an avalanche and were likely killed under the weight of snow nearly as deep as a 10-storey building, Alaska state troopers said.

If the deaths are confirmed it would be the deadliest US avalanche since three climbers were killed in a slide in Washington’s Cascade Mountains two years ago.