Australian tourist among four killed in Mount Everest avalanche

An Australian tourist was among four people who have been killed by an avalanche at Mount Everest.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the man was with a party of 10 who travelled with a local tour company to an off-limits area of the mountain on the communist country's side.

As heavy snow fell, authorities tried to evacuate more than 150 people, including 86 from the Everest base camp in China. They worked throughout Tuesday night to clear roads and get people to safety.

The party including the male Australian tourist was caught in the path of the avalanche, which killed him and three Tibetan yak herders.

The Australian Foreign Office confirmed the death and said it was attempting to contact the man's family.