Mountains in Tyrol
(Picture: Pixabay )Five people have been killed by an avalanche in the Austrian state of Tyrol on Friday, police in the country have confirmed.
The avalanche happened near the Austrian-Swiss border in the Spiss municipality, Tyrol’s emergency control centre said on Friday afternoon.
A sixth person is reported to have suffered minor injuries.
The identities and nationalities of the victims have not yet been released as investigators launch an inquiry into the incident.
It is not yet known whether the victims were skiing, snowboarding or taking part in other activities.
Austrian and Swiss emergency crews, including helicopters, have been deployed to the area.
There has been heavy snowfall in the area.
At least 31 separate avalanches had been reported in the area on Friday, officials said.
Four of these avalanches, including one that occurred near Solden and another in Zillertal, injured people including one which swept down a ski piste at the resort of Soelden.
Five people have been rescued, according to Tyrol’s emergency services control centre.
An avalanche in central Austria in December last year claimed the lives of three skiers, including promising teenage motocross star Rene Hofer.
The 19-year-old was among 11 skiers, eight of whom were hit by a 200-metre (655ft) wall of snow during a tour in Twenge, Salzburg province.
