Seven killed in avalanche in Japan

Seven skiers and mountain climbers were killed in an avalanche Saturday on the snowy North Alps mountain range in Japan's Toyama prefecture.

An avalanche engulfed the skiers and mountain climbers at around 10.50 a.m. in the Masagodake area which is at 2861-meter level, Xinhua cited media reports as saying.

Seven people were rushed by helicopter to nearby hospitals but they were all dead.