DHAKA: Seven people died after being hit by an avalanche on Saturday on a mountain in Japan`s central Toyama prefecture, local police said.

The seven, four men and three women, were climbing or skiing when the avalanche, an estimated 30m wide and 600m long, hit on a western slope of the 2,860m-high Mt Masago, the police said.

They were taken to hospital by helicopter but were confirmed dead, police said, reports The Straits Times.

A local police officer said rescuers were continuing the search as it was not clear if there were any other people on the mountain at the time of the avalanche.

BDST: 1736 HRS, NOV 23, 2013