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Avalanche kills four skiers in Austrian Alps

A large avalanche swept away a ski group in the Austrian Alps killing four people.

The avalanche hit the remote Jochgrubenkopf peak in the Tyrol region at about 12.30 local time yesterday.

A group of eight foreign tourists was engulfed, but four managed to free themselves and seek help, according to local reports.

Three bodies were found quickly but rescuers searched for hours to find the fourth body buried deep in the snow.

The ski group was reportedly visiting from Switzerland.

Rudi Mair from the Tyrol avalanche warning service said “tons of snow” had come down the 7,800ft mountain.

The avalanche was said to have been about 2,300ft long.

Mair told Austrian broadcaster ORF that the avalanche had been triggered by a small amount of fresh snow on top of several, unstable layers of old snow.

Fourteen people in Austria have died in avalanche accidents this winter, the BBC reported.

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