4 dead in Austrian avalanche

A major rescue operation has been launched in western Austria, after an avalanche buried several cars in the resort town of Obergurgl near Innsbruck.

At least four people are known to have been killed, and several others are feared missing.

The victims were found in a car that had been completely destroyed by the snow.

The area has been under heightened avalanche alert after heavy overnight snowfalls, which have also cut off a number of skiing resorts.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service