French Alps avalanche kills seven climbers

Seven climbers were swept to their deaths in an avalanche in the French Alps.

Police have said the avalanche occurred in the Massif des Ecrins, south-east of Grenoble, at around midday today.

People reported seeing a roped party of eight people caught in the avalanche.

Five of them are understood to be German, and three are from the Czech Republic

The prefect of the Hautes-Alpes Pierre Besnard said: 'There has been an avalanche in Pelvoux. There are victims. There will be many deaths.'

Mr Besnard added: 'One person is thought to be ok or slightly injured.'

Seven bodies are understood to have been found. It is unclear if any more will be discovered.

Two teams of dogs and a helicopter had been sent out to find people who may have become caught up in the avalanche. 

The avalanche began at noon from a height of 4,015 metres (13,200 feet).

Christian Flagella, a member of the police force in the Hautes-Alpes region, where the mountain is located, said it was likely triggered when a layer of snow separated and hurtled down the hill.

'The conditions are winter-like at the moment,' he said.

Rescuer Nicolas Colombani added a lot of snow had fallen over the weekend, particularly at a high altitude.

Climbers and skiers are sporadically caught in avalanches in the popular Alps, particularly during the winter season.

A source told L'Express that this particular mountain was popular with amateur climbers because of its relative ease. 

Last winter, at least 28 people died in avalanches in France.