Six hikers, possibly French, were swept away by an avalanche in northern Norway on Monday, a local police chief told AFP.

"Around 2:30 pm (1330 GMT), we were informed that an expedition of 12 people had been taken by an avalanche. According to initial, unconfirmed information, six of them were carried away by the avalanche and they could be French," Tromsoe police chief Tor-Einar Eilertsen said.

"We have scrambled significant resources to try to find them," he added.

Rescue workers and several helicopters were rushed to the avalanche site, which according to local media was on the Sorbmegaisa mountain in the Kaafjord municipality.

According to Eilertsen, the expedition team was equipped with radio transmitters which could aid the search.

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.