The bodies of five skiers have been found on a glacier above Switzerland’s luxury Zermatt resort, authorities have confirmed. Emergency services became aware of the tragedy after two hikers reported seeing several abandoned pairs of skis near the Rimpfischhorn, a 4,000-metre peak in the Valais Alps. Consequent aerial and ground searches led to the five bodies being discovered on the Adler Glacier below the summit, Valais police said in a statement.
Three of the bodies were found in one high-altitude area, while the two others were discovered higher up on the peak on a patch of snow, according to authorities. The identities of the five skiers, who were believed to be travelling as a group, have not been confirmed but the Swiss public prosecutor’s office has reportedly opened an investigation into the incident.
The region’s weather conditions and avalanche activity are set to be included in the investigation, which is aimed at establishing the circumstances of the deaths.
The nationalities of the five people who perished on the mountain have also not been disclosed. Zermatt is one of Switzerland’s most luxurious ski resorts and is generally popular with wealthy European tourists.
Rimpfischhorn sits east of the resort, near the Swiss-Italian border, and is considered an advanced route that involves travelling around five hours from the Alpine retreat.
Aviation firm Air Zermatt reportedly flew a rescue mission to the mountain spot on Saturday afternoon, when the bodies were found.
The company said its rescuers found the bodies on an avalanche cone alongside a quantity of snow and debris, apparently left by a snow slip.
In a separate incident on Friday, four climbers were rescued from the 4,000-metre Fiescherhörner after becoming stranded in heavy fog and wind.
The famous resort, renowned as among the best in the world, became temporarily inaccessible due to extreme weather last month, according to local reports, with unpredictable conditions triggering a number of avalanches.
