An American teenager was among three people who died in an avalanche near a Swiss ski resort, with a 20-year-old Swiss skier was also sustaining serious injuries in the incident, local police reported.

A large avalanche broke out off the Riffelberg ski slopes around 2 p.m. Monday above the Zermatt resort and below the Matterhorn peak. Eight avalanche dogs, 13 rescue specialists, 15 firefighters and local ski instructors were among the search crew, the Daily Mail reported.

Rescuers recovered three bodies, a 15-year-old American boy, as well as a man and a woman.  No names were released or information about if they were related to the boy.

The fourth victim was flown to the hospital by ambulance.

They suspended search operations on Monday but did not say whether they thought there might be more victims still in the snow.

No update was released on Tuesday.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation in collaboration with the Cantonal Police.