At least four people have been killed in an avalanche at the ski resort of Tignes in the French Alps.

Nine people were skiing off-piste when the avalanche struck around 11am local time.

“Five people are still buried under large amount of snow,” mountain rescue officials in Albertville said.

Rescue teams search for the missing skiiers (AFP/Getty Images)

The group consisted of eight skiers and one guide and are believed to have been equipped with avalanche victim detectors. But local French newspaper Le Dauphine reports one person, who had registered for the outing, did not show up at the station this morning.

A family of five is believed to have been among the group, authorities in Tignes said.

Two skiers who were initially pulled out alive died shortly after being rescued, police said.

The number of dead is expected to rise.

Rescuers are using several dog teams and two helicopters to search for survivors.

Mountain security authorities in Albertville said the missing are "buried under a large amount of snow".

A general view of the alpine ski resort in Tignes, France (Reuters)

Rescue crews are pessimistic about finding anyone else alive.

Emmanuel Dubost, from the Courchevel rescue team, told BFM TV: “At the moment there is a lot of assistance on the ground and many dog rescue teams from Tignes and Val d’Isere and our rescue teams plus two medical helicopters that are ready to look after anyone who is found.

"We have doctors on the ground as well if we find other people alive, but that is unlikely.”

Rescuers workers search an avalanche site in an off-piste area (AFP/Getty Images) (Getty)

The avalanche was reportedly 400 metres (1,300ft) wide, and occurred around 2,100 metres.

The ski resort is popular among Britons and the avalanche occurred during a particularly busy time for French skiing resorts with the beginning of the half-term holiday.

The nationalities of the victims are not yet known.

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It is the worst avalanche in France since the ski season began.

Since the beginning of the season, there have been 13 avalanches in the Alps and the Pyrenees, which have killed at least three.