Search for NZ avalanche victims
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Rescuers are probing the snow searching for anyone swept away by a powerful avalanche at the Treble Cone ski-field in New Zealand's South Island.
The avalanche -- which officials said measured 150 by 800 meters (490 by 2624 feet) -- crossed across the main ski field.
Police said they did not know how many people had been caught up in the snow slide, the New Zealand Herald reported on Friday.
Around 150 people are involved in the search while rescue helicopters had been dispatched from nearby Queenstown and Dunedin.
Several local media reports said that witnesses saw several skiers getting caught up in the onslaught of snow.
Eyewitnesses described an awesome, powerful but deadly-quiet wave of snow.
Skiers had been earlier urged to stay away from snow in the South Island's high country amid warnings of extreme avalanche danger.
An urgent avalanche warning was issued for slopes from Queenstown to Artheru's Pass along the Southern Alps.
Treble Cone is the largest ski area in the South Island and is in the Matukituki Valley, 28km west of Wanaka.
It is used as a training ground by European and United States World Cup national teams.
