Authorities are trying to locate a man still missing near Innsbruck, Austria. Picture: Daniel Liebl Source: AP

The climbers in Austria were part of an eight-person ski touring group when the avalanche hit at about 12:30pm Wednesday, local time.

Four people in the group were able to free themselves from the snow on their own and alerted rescue crews, The Austria Press Agency reports, citing police.

Four people were reportedly killed when an avalanche struck Tyrol, Austria.Source:AFP

The avalanche came on the 2450-meter-high Jochgrubenkopf mountain, southeast of Innsbruck, and measured about 700-meters-long with the snow depth reaching 12 meters.

The news comes after Canadian police confirmed two American snowshoers are believed to have died in an avalanche near Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the two people from Boston did not check out of their hotel in the Alberta resort on Tuesday and their vehicle was found at a trail head on the Icefields Parkway.

The snow engulfed a group of mountain climbers in Austria. Picture: Daniel LieblSource:AP

Parks Canada says safety specialists found snowshoe tracks leading into avalanche debris with no tracks coming out. A helicopter that flew over the area picked up signals from two radio distress transmitters, leading them to think the two are buried.

Parks Canada says the avalanche danger is so high they can’t send a team.

Police say the families of the missing people have been notified and their identities will not be released.