Authorities say five French Foreign Legionnaires on a wilderness ski training exercise in the French Alps have been killed in an avalanche near the Italian border.
At least six others taking part in Monday's off-piste (course/trail) training were reported injured near the resort of Valfrejus.
The French news agency said the victims were attached to a specialized 50-member mountain warfare unit, and said unit personnel had military skiing qualifications.
The nationalities of the victims were not immediately released. The French Foreign Legion draws on recruits from around the world.
Monday's avalanche comes just days after two French teenagers and a Ukrainian tourist were killed in a similar incident in the same region.
A French instructor who took two of the victims onto a closed skiing piste and survived the January 13 avalanche has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The third victim was not part of the group.