Avalanche kills six

Witnesses observed the avalanche on a mountain in South Tyrol late on Saturday afternoon and alerted mountain rescuers, according to a report by Austrian radio broadcaster ORF. However, search teams were only able to reach the area in the Schalfkogel mountains early Sunday, on account of bad weather.

Ronald Ribis, director of operations for the local mountain rescue service, said only two of the six victims would have had even a slight chance of surviving the ordeal.

"Unfortunately, even if we had been able to reach them more quickly, we would not have been able to do more ... only two had small breathing holes," Ribis said.

The victims' origins have not yet been confirmed. ORF has reported however that they are likely to have been part of a seven person Czech tour group. One member had not taken part in the tour and remained at the group's lodge. According to reports, he has been flown out of the region and will receive psychological treatment.

Meanwhile, there have also been reports that an Italian man was killed in a separate avalanche in South Tyrol on Saturday morning. The man had been touring the area with a group of friends at the time. The group had decided to leave the area due to the high avalanche danger shortly before the Italian became buried under several metres of snow.

Snowfall in the region last week raised the threat of avalanches.