The bodies of five skiers were recovered near Switzerland’s luxury Zermatt resort on Sunday, a day after climbers reported abandoned skis near the summit of the Rimpfischhorn, a 4,199-meter peak in the Valais Alps.
Valais regional police said aerial and ground searches led to the discovery of the victims on the Adler Glacier, below the summit. The skiers were found at varying altitudes on avalanche debris in a high-altitude area near the Swiss-Italian border.
According to rescue service Air Zermatt, three bodies were located in one area, while two others were found higher up on a narrow snowfield. A fifth pair of skis was later discovered, confirming the group had consisted of five people. Their identities have not yet been released.
The Valais public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident, examining weather conditions and potential avalanche activity in the region.
Zermatt, one of Switzerland’s most exclusive Alpine resorts, attracts affluent skiers from across Europe. However, the ascent to Rimpfischhorn is considered an advanced expedition, typically requiring a five-hour climb from the resort and an overnight stay in a high-altitude hut.
In a separate incident on Friday night, Air Zermatt conducted a difficult rescue operation on the Fiescherhörner peak, where four climbers were stranded in heavy fog and strong winds. An initial evacuation attempt was aborted due to weather conditions, but a second effort after midnight successfully brought all four to safety.
Last year, another group of five cross-country skiers was found dead near Zermatt, underscoring the risks of high-altitude skiing in the region.