Bodies of 5 Skiers Found at Varying Altitudes Near Swiss Luxury Mountain Resort

The bodies of five skiers were discovered on avalanche debris at different altitudes on the Rimpfischhorn mountain near Zermatt, a luxury Swiss resort.

On Saturday, a group of climbers alerted first responders after spotting four pairs of abandoned skis near the summit of Rimpfischhorn, a nearly 14,000-foot mountain. A ground and air search was launched, leading to the recovery of five bodies the next day.

According to the BBC, three of the victims were found together, while the other two were discovered farther up the mountain on a higher patch of snow. A fifth pair of skis was later found, confirming that the group had consisted of five individuals. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims.

The public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, which occurred near Zermatt, which is considered one of Switzerland's premier Alpine resorts.