Bodies of five skiers found on mountainside
The bodies of five skiers have been found on a glacier above the Swiss resort town of Zermatt, authorities said this afternoon. The tragic discovery was made after two hikers reported seeing abandoned skis near the Rimpfischhorn, a 4,000-metre peak in the Valais Alps.
Local police said on Sunday that the victims were located on the Adler Glacier following aerial and ground searches.
Formal identification of the victims is still under way, and their nationalities have not yet been released.
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An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched. Weather conditions and avalanche activity in the region are being examined as part of the probe.
The victims were found at different heights on avalanche debris in the high altitude near the Swiss-Italian border. Three bodies were found in one area and two more were higher up, rescue service Air Zermatt is reported to have said.
A fifth pair of skis was later found confirming that the group had travelled as a party of five.
Zermatt is one of the more upmarket Alpine resorts in Switzerland visited by affluent skiers.
Rescuers were also called to a separate incident on Friday night. Air Zermatt carried out a mountain rescue on the Fiescherhörner when four people were stranded in fog and high winds.
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