An avalanche near the French Alpine ski resort of Chamonix has left six people dead and eight injured. Police say the alarm was sounded shortly before 05:30 local time by one of the injured on the slopes of Mont Maudit. Foreigners are thought to be among the victims. Emergency services have begun an operation to help the injured. 

The mountain is known as a popular route for summer tourists heading for the summit of Mont Blanc. The climbers are believed to have been roped together in several groups when the avalanche struck.