In a heartbreaking incident near Switzerland's famed Zermatt resort, the bodies of five skiers were discovered following an intense search operation. Emergency services were summoned after a group of climbers spotted several pairs of unattended skis near the Rimpfischhorn, a prominent peak standing at 4,199 meters in the Valais Alps.
Search teams conducted aerial and ground investigations, leading to the tragic finding of the bodies on the Adler Glacier, according to local police reports. The deceased were located at varying altitudes on avalanche debris in areas known for their perilous conditions near the Swiss-Italian border.
Specifically, three bodies were found clustered in one area, while the other two were discovered at a higher elevation on a narrow snow patch. Additionally, a fifth ski was retrieved during the search, confirming the group traveled together as five. Their identities have not been released to the public as authorities await formal identification.
In the aftermath, the public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, a separate rescue operation also took place over the weekend by Air Zermatt, where four climbers were successfully evacuated from the Fiescherhörner mountain during challenging weather conditions characterized by fog and high winds. Despite initial setbacks, the rescue team managed to bring the climbers to safety just after midnight.
