VIENNA

Five people from the Czech Republic were killed in an avalanche in western Austria, a police spokesman said on Sunday. 

Speaking to reporters, Kerstin Hinterecker said the avalanche occurred on the 3,000-meter-high (9,843 feet) Dachstein mountain, killing five mountaineers, including three women. 

Upper Austria rescue team head Christoph Preimesberger said five people from the Czech Republic had been buried under a snow mass about 400 meters and 150-200 meters wide.

None could be rescued even though rescuers promptly arrived at the scene, Preimesberger added.

Search efforts are ongoing in the region, though no other victims are expected to have been at the incident, he underlined.