Five snowmobile riders killed in huge avalanche in Canada

Five snowmobile riders were left dead after they were hit by a huge avalanche in Canada.

Three separate groups of snowmobilers were caught up in the avalanche when it hit the Renshaw area of British Columbia yesterday.

A helicopter was dispatched as a huge search operation as launched, but five people were killed in the incident.

Karl Klassen of Avalanche Canada said the "very large, significant" avalanche appeared to be human-triggered.

"There are layers of concern in the snowpack in many parts of this region (and others) and a fairly significant weather event added rain and snow to the snowpack over the last few days followed by clearing and cooling today," he said.

"This may have produced stresses in the snowpack capable of producing large avalanches and this condition could take several days to settle and bond."