Rescuers are searching for a number of skiers feared buried alive following three avalanches in Switzerland.
At least two people have been injured in the landslide that hit the Austrian ski resort of Ankogel and one at the Swiss resort of Andermatt earlier today.
After a large avalanche spilled onto the piste at Andermatt, two people were pulled from the snow and taken to Uri hospital with minor injuries, Swiss police said.
Four more were retrieved unhurt, but it was unclear how many others could be buried under the snow, a police spokesman said, adding that a large rescue squad was on the site.
Reto Pfister, state police spokesperson in the Swiss canton of Uri, told NBC News: “We believe there are more people buried but we can’t say how many."
Police were first alerted to the avalanche at 10.50am local time.
Anne Jehn, director of Andermatt Ski Academy, was on the scene just after the avalanche hit and worked with her students to rescue a woman from the snow.
"She was ash gray. Shocked. But I guess she'll be okay," Ms Jehn said, NBC News reported.
Meanwhile, danger for the area had been at level three on a scale of five, according to the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), which said fresh and wind-drifted snow was the main threat.
In Austria, three avalanches came down in Ankogel in the province of Carinthia, police said.
One happened outside the secured ski slope and buried two free riders, who were able to escape.
A large rescue team, searching for possible victims of another major avalanche that came down directly on the slope, had not found anyone by afternoon, a police spokesman said.
The avalanche warning level had also been at three on a scale of five, according to Carinthia's warning service.
