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A teenager from Alaska was killed on March 22 after triggering an avalanche while riding a snowmobile. The avalanche buried the 16-year-old, marking the fourth avalanche-related death in the state this month, according to authorities.

The death toll is unusually high for Alaska, where, in recent years, the average number of avalanche fatalities has been around three annually.

The victim, identified by the Alaska State Troopers as Tucker Challan from Soldotna, Alaska, was found the next day. He had been buried under approximately 10 feet (approximately 3 meters) of snow while riding in Turnagain Pass in the Kenai Mountains, about 60 miles (about 97 kilometers) south of Anchorage.

Avalanches have historically caused widespread devastation, killing thousands and destroying entire towns. Find out how devastating an avalanche can be by clicking through this gallery on the world's worst avalanche disasters.

▲Wellington was a small railroad community in the US state of Washington. In 1910, the town was battered by the Wellington avalanche.

▲Trains were trapped under the snow, and the death count is estimated to be around 96.

▲The 1922 Ōmi Train avalanche was a devastating natural disaster that claimed the lives of nearly 100 people.

▲An avalanche hit the railway line between Hokuriku and Qinhai, derailing a train. It's one of Japan's worst ever natural disasters.

▲There were a series of avalanches that devastated the world in 2010. One occurred in Kohistan, Pakistan.

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The village of Bagaro Serai was struck by one particularly horrible avalanche that killed over 100 people.

▲Way back in the 17th century, this area in France's Hautes-Pyrénées was hit with a ruinous avalanche.

▲It's estimated that 107 people were killed as a result of this avalanche that occurred in 1600.

▲This disaster took place around Mount Kazbek in September 2002. It occurred after the collapse of the Kolka Glacier.

▲The ice slide heavily impacted the Genaldon and Karmadon vallies. Around 125 people died because of the disaster, including a film crew of 27 people.

▲This avalanche hit a Pakistani military base in the nation's Gayari Sector.

▲The avalanche trapped 140 soldiers and civilian contractors under the snow. No one made it out alive.

▲In the early 20th century, an avalanche wreaked havoc on the village of Mitsumata in Japan. In 1918, an avalanche assaulted the village, destroying over 30 houses and killing 158 people.

▲In 2010, a series of at least 36 avalanches hit the Salang tunnel in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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Around 171 people died in the disaster, which was caused by a freak storm in the Hindu Kush mountains.

▲In 1979, India was hit with a series of destructive avalanches.

▲Lahaul Valley was buried by multiple avalanches. It's thought that around 200 people died in the disasters.

▲Afghanistan was ravaged by three avalanches back in March 2012. The avalanches struck the region of Badakhshan.

▲Over 200 people were confirmed to have died.

▲White Friday was a day that shook Italy during WWI. An avalanche occurred at Mount Marmolada, striking an Austrian barracks on the mountain ridge.

▲It's estimated that around 10.000 soldiers were killed in the avalanche. Historians think that both Italian and Austrian soldiers fired shells at the mountain, trying to trigger an avalanche to destroy the other side.

▲The worst avalanches in recent history occurred in 2015. A total of 40 avalanches struck the Panjshir Province, devastating the region.

▲At least 310 people were killed in the avalanches. It was the worst disaster of this kind in three decades.

▲Back in 1962, Peru was struck with a chaotic avalanche from Huascarán mountain. Nine towns and several villages were destroyed by the natural disaster.

▲Over 4,000 people were killed by the avalanche. The disaster was caused by a giant glacier that suddenly broke apart and fell down the mountainside.

▲Peru doesn't have any luck when it comes to natural disasters. The world's worst avalanche occurred there way back in 1970.

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Triggered by the Ancash earthquake, the 1970 Huascarán avalanche was devastating. The death toll was estimated to be around 20,000.