2 killed by avalanche in northern Norway

An avalanche in Norway's northern county of Nordland has killed two people, news agency NTB reported Tuesday.

According to Tore Hongset, rescue leader from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (HRS), it was unlikely that there were more people in the avalanche masses.

The two people were driving construction machinery on a road in the area when a 200-meter-wide avalanche happened around noon on Tuesday.

Rescue personnel from the fire service, police and volunteers were transported to the site and quickly located the machinery buried in the snow, about 15 meters from the road.

"At a few minutes' intervals, the two men were excavated and confirmed dead," Bent Are Eilertsen, chief of staff at the Nordland police district, said in a press release.

The police had warned against driving in the area because of threatening snow masses.

The police themselves had to use a Sea King rescue helicopter to transport rescue personnel, dogs and equipment because of the difficult conditions, NTB reported.