At least four people have been killed in an avalanche at the Alpine skiing station of Tignes, local authorities said.
Authorities added that emergency services were also looking for five other people from a skiing party of nine that was swept away by the avalanche, which struck an off-piste slope.
"Five people are still buried under a huge mass of snow," said a rescue official from nearby Albertville.
The incident occurred during a particularly busy time for French skiing destinations, with families flocking to the resorts during the school half-term holidays.
Around 10cms of fresh snow fell on the slopes of the resort near the Italian border last week and more is forecast this week.
Before the avalanche, 13 accidents have been recorded in the Alps and Pyrenees so far this winter, claiming a total of three lives.
Last winter there were 45 accidents and 21 fatalities.
