Kim Hjelmgaard

USA TODAY

No fatalities were reported after an avalanche struck the popular French Alpine ski report of Tignes on Tuesday, authorities said.

A search operation was called off. There was no immediate word on injuries.

Emergency services earlier said several people were buried under the snow but could not confirm the number of skiers. And, local French media, citing witnesses, said many people were swept away.

Four snowboarders died last month when another avalanche hit an off-piste area near Tignes. In January, 29 people were killed when an avalanche slammed into a hotel in central Italy.