Five people have been killed in what has been described as a “massive” avalanche in the Austrian Alps.

Police say it struck skiiers from the Czech Republic, who were taking part in a free-riding camp.

Two others were injured and ten were rescued unharmed.

A police spokesman said the skiers were moving in two separate groups of twelve and five, when the avalanche hit them around noon on Saturday in the Wattener Lizum region, 30 kilometres southeast of Innsbruck.

Authorities had warned that the risk of avalanches in the region was “considerable,” the third highest on a five point scale.

Euronews