Several people are believed to have been buried by an avalanche on a ski mountain in Austria.
A search operation is underway following the incident at the Stubai Glacier ski resort in Tyrol, western Austria, just before 9.30am today.
Six people were partially buried in the snow but have since been rescued, local media reports.
It is currently unclear whether or to what extent they were injured.
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A helicopter was pictured at the scene amid the rescue efforts.
Police said the avalanche occurred in the Red Piste 9 slope area at around 9.25am.
A spokesman said it reached "right up to the piste".
Footage shared to social media shows the moment the avalanche occurred as snow came racing down a mountainside.
The ski resort opened for its winter season at the start of October
|FACEBOOK/STUBAI GLACIER
Stubai Glacier said it believes it was triggered by "off-piste" skiers.
"The avalanche debris field is currently being intensively searched by emergency services," the ski resort said, according to local media.
Stubai Glacier is Austria's largest ski resort, located around 45 minutes away from the city of Innsbruck.
It currently offers visitors a choice of 19 ski slopes and 16 ski lifts.
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The resort opened for its 2025/2026 winter season last month.
According to weather forecasts for the region, a danger level 3 for avalanches is in effect for the region.
The Avalanche Warning Center at the Bavarian State Office for the Environment wrote:" The avalanche danger is considerable from the Allgäu to the western Chiemgau above 1500 metres and moderate below that.
"Fresh snow is the main problem. The fresh snow can be triggered as a slab avalanche by a small additional load.
"Danger spots can be found in steep terrain of all exposures. At higher altitudes, avalanches can tear through to the deeper layers.
"Slab avalanches reach medium size. From extremely steep terrain, fresh snow can also release itself as a small or medium-sized loose snow avalanche.
"On very steep, smooth meadow slopes and in gappy mountain forests, smaller sliding snow avalanches can also release themselves."
It added: "Up to 60cm of fresh snow has fallen in the last few days.
"Within the fresh snow there are weak layers that are susceptible to disturbance. At higher altitudes, older accumulations of drift snow lying on soft layers are covered by fresh snow.
"In areas exposed to the wind, the snow can be bound together like boards. At higher altitudes, the snow loses its firmness with the sunlight. The ground is not frozen and the base of the snow cover is often wet."
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