Two avalanches in the French Alpine region of Savoie have left seven people dead Saturday, prefecture sources said.

Local authorities had already warned of unstable snow formations given a recent falloff in temperatures.

The first avalanche occurred late morning in Valloire, a village close to the 2,642-meter Col du Galibier mountain, killing four locals aged 42 to 76.

They were among a five-strong group of walkers, one of whom was found safe by rescuers after two helicopters were scrambled.

The second avalanche claimed three lives early afternoon near the 3,779-meter Mont Pourri, near Les Arcs ski resort some 150 kilometers northeast of the first one, prefecture sources said.

A warning had been issued indicating "particularly high" risk after recent days saw heavy snowfalls followed by falling temperatures.