Avalanche hits California ski resort, not yet clear if people trapped

(Reuters) - Authorities in California said on Wednesday that search and rescue teams are responding to an avalanche at the Palisades Tahoe ski resort, and it was not yet clear if anyone was buried in the snow.

The Placer County Sheriff's office said on social media that deputies were on the scene at the resort, located about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco. The sheriff's office did not provide any additional information.

The office of Governor Gavin Newsom said on social media "the state is monitoring and standing by to assist" and state firefighters were moving rescuers and resources into the area.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the avalanche, but heavy snows have been pounding the mountainous area for the past day.

The Palisades Tahoe resort said on social media the avalanche took place on the Palisades side of its mountain at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time.

"Our Patrol and mountain operations teams are performing a search at this time," the resort stated, adding both sides of its mountain were closed for the day.

The Palisades Tahoe resort opened in 1949 and is at Olympic Valley, California. The resort was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado, and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)

By Brad Brooks