A rescue mission is underway to reach several people buried in an avalanche on the Eiger mountain in the Swiss Alps, local police say.

The avalanche took place shortly after midday on Saturday, Bern police said in a statement on social media.

They said they had launched a large-scale operation involving several rescue teams who were looking for people.

The Eiger is a 3,967m (13,000 ft) peak near the tourist resorts of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Wengen.