At least two skiers have died, and even more are buried in snow after an avalanche at a popular skiing spot in the Austrian Alps. A rescue mission involving helicopters and mountain rescue teams is underway after the avalanche hit near St. Anton am Arlberg on Friday afternoon.

Off-piste terrain on the Rendl (Verwall) mountain quickly became buried, with sources saying five people are missing, according to Kronen Zeitung. Two people have died, while another was airlifted to hospital in Innsbruck, as rescuers attempted to resuscitate a fourth.

Mountain rescue teams from St. Anton, Pettneu, Flirsch, and Landeck were mobilised to the scene, as well as police and other emergency crews.

Mayor Helmut Mall said there is “absolutely no” danger to the village or other nearby areas.

This comes after a British tourist was killed in an avalanche in the French Alps earlier this week. Piotr Ortonowski, 36, was pronounced dead following the incident, which occurred near the resort town of La Grave on February 17.

The British-Polish dual national had been skiing alongside a group of four others when the avalanche struck.

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They were identified as Stuart Leslie and Shaun Overy, whilst a third victim was a French national. Rescue services found the bodies of the two UK nationals in a stream 400 metres down the Manchet valley.

Mr Leslie was a sales and marketing director for Barratt Redrow construction company, while Mr Overy ran a plumbing business in Wimbledon, southwest London.  

Mr Leslie is believed to have been an experienced skier and a fan of off-piste tracks.