Four people were killed and several injured in an avalanche in the French Alps, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanen said on Twitter on Sunday.

The avalanche occurred around noon on the Armansette glacier, which is located on the Mont Blanc mountain range.

According to local media, those who were caught in the avalanche were walking in the mountains. At least 13 people are involved, some of whom are being treated on the spot, TF1 reported, citing News.ro.

The identities of the dead have not yet been established.

President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that rescue services were continuing to search for other victims and that his thoughts were with the victims and their families.

20 rescuers, two helicopters, mountain gendarmerie units and avalanche dogs are already working on the spot.

The Haute-Savoie prefecture warns of the risk of an avalanche. According to her, the avalanche descended from the top of the glacier and moved 1,000 meters long, carrying snow more than 100 meters wide.

Earlier in the morning, the Contamine-Montjoie ski area urged caution and asked tourists not to ski off-piste, posting a video on its Twitter account of a large mass of snow descending into an avalanche.

On the other hand, Météo-France did not issue an avalanche warning, but high temperatures and winds could trigger the event.

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(Article photo: © Eric Duroi | Dreamstime.com)