An aerial view shows the site where six Swiss soldiers died in an avalanche at the Jungfrau mountain July 12, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    GENEVA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- An avalanche in the Swiss Alps killed six army recruits on Thursday, while eight others were rescued unharmed, the official Swissinfo website reported.

    The accident happened at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday morning as the Swiss troops were taking part in an exercise on the southwest flank of the Jungfrau peak in the Bernese Oberland region, according to the report.

    The six climbers were heading up the 4,158-meter mountain, roped together in two groups of three. They had reached a height of 3,800 meters when fresh snow dislodged, sending them plummeting into the valley below.

    An investigation was already underway to determine whether the accident was due to bad luck or human error, Swissinfo quoted officials as saying.