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French Alps avalanche: Six killed near Chamonix French Alps avalanche: Nine killed near Chamonix
(40 minutes later)
At least six climbers have been killed and nine injured in an avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix, police say. Nine climbers have been killed and nine others injured in an avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix, officials say.
Two German, two Swiss and two Spanish nationals were killed, according to AFP. The news agency added that five Britons and two Spaniards were missing. Two Spaniards, one German and one Swiss national were among the victims, the Haute-Savoie prefecture told the BBC. Two others have not been identified.
The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit. The bodies of three more people - said to be Britons - have also been found. At least four people are still missing.
The route is a popular one for tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc. The alarm was sounded by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit.
The route is popular with summer tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc.
'Cursed mountain''Cursed mountain'
In all, 28 climbers were roped together in several groups, reports say. In all, 28 climbers were roped together in several groups.
They are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120 ft) when the avalanche struck.They are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120 ft) when the avalanche struck.
The injured were airlifted to a local hospital. Rescuers were alerted about the avalanche at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) by one of the injured.
Rescue teams are using a helicopter and heat-seeking device to try to locate the missing amid fears that the death toll will rise further. A spokeswoman at the Haute-Savoie prefecture told the BBC initially that six bodies had been found.
Hours later, rescuers found the bodies of three more victims, believed to be Britons.
Four more climbers - said to be two UK nationals and two Spaniards - are still missing, AFP news agency reports.
The British Foreign Office says the French authorities have not yet confirmed to London that any UK nationals were among the climbers.The British Foreign Office says the French authorities have not yet confirmed to London that any UK nationals were among the climbers.
The injured were airlifted to a local hospital.
Rescue teams are using a helicopter and heat-seeking device to try to locate the missing.
The French authorities described the avalanche as "the most deadly" in recent years, AFP says.The French authorities described the avalanche as "the most deadly" in recent years, AFP says.
The weather in the region has been warm and windy over the last few days, which could have led to an increased risk of avalanche at high altitudes, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne reports.The weather in the region has been warm and windy over the last few days, which could have led to an increased risk of avalanche at high altitudes, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne reports.
Mont Maudit - meaning the cursed mountain - is the third-highest peak in the Mont Blanc massif range, rising to 4,465m.Mont Maudit - meaning the cursed mountain - is the third-highest peak in the Mont Blanc massif range, rising to 4,465m.
Last week, five foreign climbers have fallen to their deaths in the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps. Last week, five foreign climbers fell to their deaths in the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps.