Avalanche kills mountain climbers in the French Alps

At least nine people were killed and four reported missing on Thursday in an avalanche in the French Alps that local authorities called "the most deadly of recent years."

Most of the dead found after the early morning avalanche on Mont Maudit, which translates as "Cursed Mountain", were Europeans, officials said.

Among the dead were at least one Swiss, a German and two Spaniards, local prefect Philippe de Rumigny told AFP. Officials had earlier reported two Swiss and two Germans dead.

The bodies of three more victims, believed to be those of British climbers earlier reported missing, were also found during rescue efforts, according to preliminary information.

Four more climbers - believed to be two Britons and two Spaniards - were still missing, officials said.

Efforts were continuing to track down the missing climbers on the mountain in the Mont Blanc massif at a height of more than 4,000 metres (13,100 feet), with Italian rescuers brought in to assist France's PGHM high-mountain group.

Nine more climbers were lightly injured and treated at a local hospital.