Norway avalanche dead are four Swiss, a Frenchman

They include four Swiss skiers and their French guide, amid criticism over the groups decision to ski in a dangerous area.The victims are a Frenchman and four Swiss nationals. We have identified them but were not going to publish their names until were sure that their next of kin have been informed, Tromsoe police officer Morten Pettersen told AFP.The expedition was swept away by an avalanche on Monday afternoon at an altitude of about 1,000 metres (about 3,300 feet) on the Sorbmegaisa mountain in the Kaafjord municipality.Sorbmegaisa means very dangerous mountain in the indigenous Sami language.Around 30 rescue workers, assisted by dogs and several helicopters, were took part in the search-and-rescue operation, while F-16 fighter jets were also deployed to help with observations at the site.A sixth member of the group -- a Swiss tourist in his 50s -- was dug out of the snow alive and taken to hospital, a hospital spokesman said.His injuries are moderate and his condition is stable, Jan Fredrik Frantzen told AFP.Norwegian media said Mondays avalanche was the deadliest in the Scandinavian country since 1986, when 14 people were killed in an avalanche.Criticism arose Tuesday over the groups decision to ski in the area.The 12-member expedition had split into two six-person groups each made up of five Swiss nationals and one French guide. Only one of the groups was caught in the avalanche.I would never have ventured into that area, said Eirik Braein Gikling, an expedition organiser quoted in daily Dagbladet.We hope the inquiry will provide us with some answers on the possibly dangerous decision taken by the skiers, Pettersen said.Avalanches are common in Norway at this time of year as blocks of snow and ice begin crumbling under the first rays of spring sun.