Five French Foreign Legionnaires have been killed in an avalanche during a training exercise in the French Alps.
Another six were injured near the resort of Valfrejus, with one in intensive care in hospital with hypothermia.
They were among a group of 50 soldiers taking part in the skiing exercise.
Three helicopters were involved in the search, as well as police dogs and a number of doctors.
The nationalities of the victims were not immediately known. The French Foreign Legion attracts recruits from around the world.
French President Francois Hollande expressed "the nation's solidarity" over the deaths and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He also asked Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to head to the scene of the accident, the presidency said in a statement.
The avalanche took place at 1.50pm (12.50pm Irish time) at an altitude of between 2,350 and 2,600 metres.
French prosecutors are looking into whether they or military authorities should handle the probe of the accident. If investigators find evidence of criminal wrongdoing the military would handle the case.
The regiment to which the soldiers were attached is specialised in mountain warfare and all the members have military skiing qualifications.
The unit experienced a similar tragedy in 2012 when an avalanche swept away five of its members, leaving one dead.
The incident comes after two teenagers on a school trip and a Ukrainian tourist were killed in an avalanche in the French Alps last Wednesday.
A French teacher who took the students onto a closed skiing piste in that incident has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.
