Several skiers were buried in one avalanche near Davos in the Alps of eastern Switzerland.  "A large avalanche has swept over several skiers who were on a trail less than a kilometre from the resort," police spokesman Pierino Zamin said.

Swiss radio said one person had been rescued, with up to five others still missing. There was no immediate word on the identities of those buried or whether anyone had been hurt or killed.

Italian disaster

In the second avalanche, four people were feared dead and one was in intensive care when a group of skiers was buried in northern Italy.

A police spokesman said mountain rescuers had reported the four people were dead, but he could not confirm the information. The accident happened at an altitude of 3,000m in Val di Mazia, near the Austrian border.

The Swiss rescuers were continuing the search for survivors, and helicopters had brought search dogs to the area.

The avalanche came down shortly before noon in the Meierhof-Taelli ski area, between Davos and Klosters. Officials said recent heavy snows in the area meant the danger of avalanches had been high.

The incidents come almost a year to the day after more than 30 people died when an avalanche hit the small town of Galtuer in western Austria.