Five climbers fall to their deaths in Austrian Alps

Five people are dead and one seriously injured in a mountain accident in the Austrian state of Salzburg, the Austrian Press Agency has reported.

The Austrian Red Cross says five mountain climbers have died in the Austrian Alps.

The head of rescue services Anton Voithofer has told the Austrian news agency APA that the five died on Sunday in an accident at Mount Gabler, east of Innsbruck.

APA reports the five mountain climbers were part of a group of six. Rescue efforts are still underway and it is not clear what happened to the sixth person.

Rescue workers stand next to a police helicopter in Krimml in the Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. Source: AAP

The six had been roped together when they fell, while around 2,000 metres up the mountain, in a very remote area.

Five helicopters are involved in the rescue efforts.

APA said the nationalities of the climbers have not been identified yet.

It also wasn't clear how exactly the five persons died.

The lone survivor was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Salzburg and was in stable condition, local media reported.