Swiss police have found the bodies of five skiers in the mountains near Zermatt, a luxury resort popular with backcountry skiers. The discovery was made on Saturday after climbers alerted authorities to abandoned skis near the summit of Rimpfischhorn.
The 4,199-meter mountain lies east of Zermatt and is known for its challenging terrain. A helicopter survey revealed the bodies, which were found in two locations: an avalanche cone and a small area of snow about 200 meters above.
Air Zermatt, the aviation firm that flew a rescue mission to the site on Saturday, said it had previously struggled with treacherous conditions on another mountain. Two mountaineers became stranded due to heavy wind and fog, but were eventually rescued after an attempt was aborted and a second try was made six hours later.
The discovery comes four weeks after heavy snowfall triggered avalanches and road closures in the area. The resort was temporarily inaccessible due to the snow, affecting tourists and locals alike. An investigation into the cause of death is ongoing.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/25/five-skiers-found-dead-rimpfischhorn-zermatt-switzerland