 -- Five snowmobilers were killed and eight others were injured in an avalanche Friday in British Columbia, Canada.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said rescuers arrived "almost immediately" and worked through the afternoon to find any buried victims, according to Canada's CTV Television Network. Around 6 p.m. local time, the RCMP said the bodies of five snowmobilers were recovered.

The eight injured snowmobilers became separated from their vehicles during the avalanche and the victims were airlifted to hospitals, reported CTV. Their conditions were not immediately released.

Coroner’s Service officials told ABC News the avalanche happened in the Mount Renshaw area, in a remote area that is popular with snowmobilers. The avalanche was triggered by people, the officials said.