Avalanche kills two at Sochi Olympics site

Two women died in an avalanche Sunday at the mountain site where skiing and snowboarding events were held during the Sochi Olympics.

Officials at Rosa Khutor announced that 80 cubic meters (about 2,800 cubic feet) of snow swept over the middle section of the Labirint trail on Sunday. Of the six skiers in the area, four escaped unharmed.

“As a result of the rescue operation, the bodies of two women were found under the snowdrifts,” the statement said. “In spite of the CPR, they couldn’t be saved.”

The mountain resort hosted not only the Winter Games but also the recently concluded Paralympics. The incident occurred just one day after runs were re-opened to the public.

“At the moment, the work of clearing off the piste of snow masses continues,” the resort stated. “Investigation is in course about the circumstances and the causes of the avalanche.”