Avalanche claims another snowmobiler in B.C.

One person was killed Friday after seven snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche in a mountain range in the B.C. Interior.

Two of the snowmobilers were buried in the slide that occurred at about 1 p.m. in the Monashee Mountains, about 25 kilometres south of Valemount, RCMP Const. Craig Douglass said.

"Both were dug out. However, one was not breathing. Efforts to revive the victim were unsuccessful," Douglass said in a news release.

The identity of the deceased was not released. The other snowmobiler was not injured.

"It is not known at this time whether the victim or other members in the group had proper safety equipment and training," Douglass said.

An investigation by RCMP and the provincial coroners service has begun, he said.

Avalanche deaths climb to 14

The death toll from avalanches in B.C. this winter has risen to 14.

Two men were killed in two avalanches last weekend. One slide occurred in a remote mountainous area southwest of Chetwynd, the other near the Mara Mountain area near Sicamous.

One man injured in B.C. died in a Washington state hospital earlier this month. He was caught in an avalanche while helicopter snowboarding on Alice Mountain near Terrace.

Two men died in separate avalanches while skiing or snowboarding in closed areas of the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort on Dec 31 and Jan 1.

And eight men from Sparwood were killed in a series of avalanches while snowmobiling near Fernie on Dec. 28.