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Berlin • Police in Austria say five skiers from the Czech Republic have been killed after being buried in a 'massive' Alpine avalanche.

Tirol police spokesman Helmut Schuetz said Saturday that two people were also injured after the avalanche struck the Wattener Lizum region, 20 miles southeast of Innsbruck.

Schuetz says a total of 17 people were caught in the avalanche that struck shortly before noon.