Anchorage

Report of missing person in Flattop-area avalanche was false alarm

Alaska State Troopers say a report of a person missing in an avalanche in the area Flattop Mountain, which drew search crews to the area Sunday afternoon, was apparently false.

Trooper Rick Chambers said in a message at about 6 p.m. Sunday that the caller -- who originally told Anchorage police dispatchers that she "saw an avalanche and saw my friend fall off" between False Peak and O'Malley Peak -- had been contacted at her home by Anchorage Police Department officers. Numerous attempts to reach the caller by phone had been made after the original 18-second call was cut off.

"Everyone (is) reportedly accounted for," Chambers said. "She assumed someone had been caught (in an avalanche,) however later learned that they had not."

Troopers were unable to call on helicopter support to investigate the report due to high winds in the area, Chambers said. Responding troopers had been accompanied by members of the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, who planned to assess the safety of the area for any ground crews. Anchorage police also responded to assist.

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