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The mayor of a municipality in Germany told Global News on Thursday that three people from his community are dead after an avalanche occurred near Invermere, B.C. a day earlier.

“All of us in our community are deeply upset and feel deep sorrow,” Walter Bauer said in a written statement.

Bauer is the mayor of the municipality of Eging. In his statement, he said he learned of what had happened on Thursday morning.

“I myself am shocked, stunned and still cannot believe how cruel life can be,” he said. “The loss of a human being always affects the relatives and friends deeply, but a sudden and so tragic death of three people is even harder to cope with.

“All our sympathy and grief in these difficult hours is of course especially for the relatives and surviving relatives. Our thoughts are with them.”

Later on Thursday morning, the RCMP confirmed the three fatalities as well. Police said the dead were among 10 heli-skiers who got caught in the slide.

On Wednesday night, the RCMP first confirmed at least one person was killed in an avalanche while heli-skiing near the mountain ski resort of Panorama near Invermere, B.C.

The area is about 150 kilometres southwest of Banff, Alta.

Police said they first received reports of the slide shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time.

As of Wednesday night, the RCMP said officers were still working to determine who all was involved and where they are from, adding various emergency personnel were deployed to the area.

READ MORE: 1 killed, more feared dead and injured after avalanche near Invermere, B.C.

RK Heliski, the company involved in the incident, said nine guests and one guide were caught in the avalanche.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said four ambulances were deployed to meet helicopters

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