Four dead in Swiss avalanches

At least four people have been killed in two separate avalanche incidents in the Swiss Alps.

Police said at least three people died today in the Diemtig Valley about 25 miles south of the capital Bern.

Two successive avalanches hit a group of skiers and then the rescuers who had come to their aid.

It was unclear how many people were rescued and how many are still missing.

In a separate incident today, a man was killed by an avalanche near the town of Verbier close to the southern borders with France and Italy.