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Rescuers in Japan could discern no vital signs on Monday in two foreign men, as yet unidentified, after they were swept up in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in the central prefecture of Nagano, police said. The men were among five foreigners engulfed in Sunday's avalanche, which took place at about 2:30 p.m. The other three skiers had climbed down the mountain on their own on Sunday, the spokesman said.

Japanese officials were waiting to confirm the victims' IDs in the off-piste disaster, but a U.S. magazine and a photographer said Lake Tahoe's Kyle Smaine was one.

One of two foreign men swept up in an avalanche in Japan while back-country skiing in the central prefecture of Nagano and found without vital signs on Monday was U.S. professional skier Kyle Smaine, an outdoor magazine said. The men were among five foreigners engulfed in Sunday's avalanche, which took place at about 2:30 p.m.

Japanese officials were waiting to confirm the victims' IDs in the off-piste disaster, but a U.S. magazine and a photographer said Lake Tahoe's Kyle Smaine was one.

An extensive search took place on Sunday after two men were reported missing following an avalanche.