At least five climbers have been killed in an avalanche in the French Alps on Tuesday, according to French police. Two climbers remain missing.

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© AFPSearch helicopters have been sent out to look for survivors after an avalanche in the Massif des Ecrins.
At least five climbers were killed in an avalanche in the French Alps on Tuesday with another two missing, according to the first reports.

The avalanche occurred in the Massif des Ecrins on the slopes of the mountain Dome des neiges des Ecrins around midday.

The mountain's summit stands at 4,015 metres and it is popular with climbers due to the relative ease of the ascent, compared to other peaks in the area.

"There are victims, there will be several dead," the local prefecture in the Hautes-Alpes told AFP adding that one member of the group had survived.

"One person is thought to be ok or slightly injured," said the official, Pierre Besnard.

The victims were two Germans and three from the Czech Republic, according to the Le Parisien newspaper, which added that a Polish national was among those injured.

Two helicopters and search dogs have been dispatched along with 12 specialist high mountain military police.

The Massif des Ecrins range, most of which is in the Parc Nationale des Ecrins, is a popular area for walkers and climbers, thanks in the main to the spectacular scenery.

The national park played host to another avalanche in April this year, which killed two Austrians and an Italian.

Climbers and skiers are sporadically caught in avalanches in the popular Alps, particularly during the winter season. Last winter, at least 28 people died in avalanches in France.