Two students and one adult skier dead in avalanche

The death toll following an avalanche in the French Alps has risen to three, two school pupils and an adult skier from Ukraine, a press release from the Isere prefecture said.

The two teenage students were part of a group of 10 from Lyon St Exupéry who, accompanied by their teacher, were on the closed track when the avalanche struck.

The teacher, who was found unconscious is seriously injured alongside two other pupils who were in a state of cardiac arrest.

All members of the group have now been accounted for by rescue teams.

"The accompanying teacher was evacuated to the University Hospital of Grenoble," the statement said.

More than 60 people have been involved in the rescue operation including police and dog handlers. Two helicopters have been mobilised including one equipped with a thermal camera.