Avalanche kills 3 Dutch skiers in Austrian Alps

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Three Dutch nationals were killed in an avalanche near the resort town of Soelden in the Austrian Alps, according to media reports Thursday.

Seventeen people from the Netherlands were in the area on vacation and were being assisted by four mountain guides, NL Times reported.

Another skier who was wounded was transported to a hospital in the Zams region about 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) from the scene.

Authorities said the group was likely caught off-guard when the massive block of accumulated snow and ice broke loose.

It measured roughly 80 meters wide (262 feet) and extended for 180 meters, roughly the size of two football fields, the report added.