Five soldiers die in French Alps avalanche

PARIS

At least five soldiers were killed and five others were injured in an avalanche Monday in the Savoie department, in the French Alps.

According to local media reports citing police sources, a group of 51 soldiers was taking part in a training exercise, when 11 skiers were swept by an avalanche at around 2.00 p.m. local time (13.00 GMT) close to the resort of Valfrejus, a short distance from the Italian border.

The five seriously injured were taken to the city of Grenoble.