Authorities have discovered the bodies of five skiers on the Adler Glacier, located above the Swiss resort town of Zermatt, after two hikers reported abandoned skis near the Rimpfischhorn peak in the Valais Alps. The victims were located following extensive aerial and ground searches conducted by the police on Sunday. According to reports from Radio Télévision Suisse, three of the bodies were found approximately 500 metres from where the skis were initially spotted.
Air Zermatt, the helicopter service that performed the search operation, indicated that these three bodies were situated on an avalanche cone, while the remaining two were discovered nearly 200 metres higher up on a snow-covered patch. The process of formally identifying the victims is ongoing, and their nationalities have yet to be disclosed.
In the wake of this tragic incident, authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The inquiry will consider various factors, including prevailing weather conditions and the recent avalanche activity in the area.