An avalanche hit the Pelvoux region of the French Alps Tuesday in what has been classified as the deadliest snowslide on the mountain range this year, leaving seven climbers dead and one person injured, a local official said.
The avalanche happened around midday local time on the 13,000-foot Dome de Neige des Ecrins mountain, reports revealed, according to the BBC.
Initially, it was believed that five people died while two were considered missing, but those numbers were soon revised by officials.
"The toll has increased - seven people have died," official Pierre Besnard said, adding that rescuers were continuing their search to ensure there were no other victims, according to ABC.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve added that three helicopters and two teams of search dogs are also being added into the mix.
An undisclosed amount of foreigners were among those swept away by the avalanche, but their nationalities are still unknown, according to Weather.
The Dome de Niege is reported to be popular among climbers due to its relatively easy routes to the summit. However, according to local police commander Christian Flagella, the area can become "relatively dangerous" under certain conditions. He described the conditions on the mountain as "winter-like at the moment."
