Five people were killed after an avalanche in northern Norway on Monday buried a group of foreign skiers, police said.

Rescue workers managed to dig out one member of the group, while five were uncovered dead. Of the six buried, five were Swiss nationals and one was French.

"The last body was found under six metres of snow," Gaute Austeggen, head of the rescue operation, told broadcaster NRK. All the skiers were wearing avalanche transceivers, which aided the search efforts.

Around 30 rescue workers were involved in the operation, which included dogs, helicopters and F-16 fighter jets, flying over to survey the site.

Authorities said the one survivor, a man, was being treated at the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromso and was in stable condition.

Police said the avalanche occurred near Sorbmegaisa mountain early Monday afternoon at an altitude of about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Avalanches are common at this time of year in Norway as blocks of snow and ice begin to melt in the warmer spring weather.

acb/msh (AFP, AP)