On Sunday, May 25, the bodies of five skiers were discovered near Zermatt, Switzerland. All likely died in an avalanche.
The previous day, climbers on the 4,199m Rimpfischhorn in the nearby canton of Valais found several pairs of unattended skis near the summit, at about 4,000m.
The climbers alerted the rescue services that afternoon. Air Zermatt and the Valais police responded immediately and found the lifeless bodies of five skiers on the Adler Glacier. There was evidence of a recent avalanche nearby.
Map showing Rimpfischhorn and Zermatt. Photo: Tagesanzeiger.ch
Three bodies were found in avalanche debris 500m below the skis, while the other two bodies lay 200m higher.
The Valais police are investigating, suspecting that recent heavy snowfall near Zermatt may have triggered the slide. The victims’ identification is ongoing.
Zermatt is a famous alpine resort town, known for its skiing, mountaineering, and views of the Matterhorn.
Rimpfischhorn, Strahlhorn, and Adlerhorn. Photo: Wikimedia
