France avalanche: Four killed at Tignes ski resort

Trapped skiers rescued from cable cars in Italian Alps

The avalanche risk - in one of the busiest weeks of the year for skiing in the Alps - has been assessed by officials to be three out of five, because of recent heavy snowfalls and powerful winds which have caused drifting in some areas. "The (first) avalanche killed three, injured three people who were taken to hospital by helicopter and left two slightly hurt," alpine rescuers said in a statement.
An avalanche near the northern Italian town of Courmayeur, kills at least three people and injures another three, while two others are believed missing.