Six climbers killed in Swiss avalanche

Six mountain climbers have been killed by an avalanche in central Switzerland, rescue services said today.

Two teams of three climbers were hit by an avalanche on the south-west flank of the Jungfrau peak, about 55 miles south-east of the capital Bern, said Rene Feuz of the rescue station in Lauterbrunnen.

Earlier media reports had cited emergency services as saying seven people were killed.

The climbers were scaling the 13,642ft mountain via a standard route, Feuz said.

They had reached a height of 12,470 feet by 10am (9am Irish time) when fresh snow dislodged, sending them plummeting several hundred feet into the valley below, he said.

The bodies of all six had been recovered, Feuz said.