Ammon News - This is the terrifying moment a huge avalanche cascaded down a mountainside, engulfing dozens of skiers who desperately tried to escape.

Dramatic footage captured the mass of snow and ice tumbling down a steep slope near an Italian resort on Tuesday.

In the clip which has been shared on social media, a large group of skiers were seen waiting by a chairlift on the other side of the mountain, looking up in horror and excitement as the barrage of snow ploughed towards them.

The thick, roiling mass of snow quickly gathered speed and ploughs over a row of tall pine trees.

Onlookers appeared fascinated by the snowslide as it came down the mountain.

But upon seeing it tower over them, their captivation turned to terror at the last second.

Dozens of skiers, many of whom appeared to have young children with them, tried to flee the area at the last second but were engulfed in a cloud of snow.

It is unknown if anyone was injured.

The avalanche comes just days after two skiers were killed in a similar incident in the same resort.

Daily Mail