ISLAMABAD: An avalanche engulfed a Pakistani military camp in Siachen on Saturday, burying more than 100 soldiers, with no sign of survivors 15 hours later, the army said.

The snow left by the avalanche was up to 80 feet (25 metres) deep over an area a kilometre wide, state television quoted army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas as saying.

Radio Pakistan said on its Twitter feed that a "massive" rescue operation was under way to rescue those trapped.

Abbas told Reuters earlier 117 personnel had been stationed in the area. A helicopter rescue team was searching for survivors and sniffer dogs were deployed.

"This happened at six o'clock. These avalanches usually happen at night. It took them by surprise," said Abbas.

The soldiers were trapped in one of the most unforgiving environments on earth, at an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,500 metres) near the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram mountain range.