LOS ANGELES, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Three people were missing and two were injured on Saturday after two avalanches struck in the mountains near Snoqualmie Pass in the U.S. state of Washington.

Two skiers were injured and one went missing in the first avalanche on Saturday afternoon when it occurred off Exit 47 on Interstate 90, according to U.S. media reports quoting King County authorities.

Two people were also missing from the second avalanche, which happened off Exit 52 near Alpental Ski Area off I-90 and struck a group of 13 people who were showshoeing in the area.

The avalanches occurred as heavy snow fell in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle, the seat of King County.