Ten people, mostly snowboarders from Russia and Germany, have been killed in an avalanche after the helicopter they were riding in to access remote terrain in the far east of Russia was hit by a huge avalanche.

Reports from Russia's Emergency Ministry said the helicopter, carrying 18 people, was hit by the avalanche soon after it landed on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula on Saturday.

Four bodies have been recovered, but six are still buried under the snow and the two helicopter crew were among the dead. The helicopter itself was completely destroyed and the snow was reported to be up to 15 metres (50 feet) thick.

The accident is at least the third this year in which 10 or more have died in a single avalanche following disasters in Afghanistan and the Indian Himalayas.

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