Nine killed in Alpine avalanche

Nine climbers have been killed in an avalanche in the French Alps, according to French authorities.

A major rescue operation was launched following the disaster on Mont Maudit, near Chamonix, early today.

Local media reported that the dead included three Britons, two Germans, two Swiss and two Spaniards.

It is understood 28 climbers from several countries were taking part in the expedition at the time.

Police said they were alerted at about 5.25am local time.

Several dozen gendarmes and other rescuers along with two helicopters worked to pull the dead and injured from the mountain.

The injured climbers were taken to hospital.

Christian Trommsdorff, vice president of the French Guides Association, told the BBC: “Unfortunately this morning there’s been a big slab avalanche.

“We don’t know exactly how it was triggered.

“It is at fairly high altitude there, so it is a snow avalanche.

“It was triggered by either the people who are climbing themselves or by some ice fall above, we don’t know yet.”

Mont Maudit is 4,465 metres high and part of the Mont Blanc range. It means Cursed Mountain in French.

The area is one of the most popular with climbers in the Alps.