Five ski tourers recorded in Valais Alps by Lawine - tragedy on the Rimpfischhorn
Five ski tourers recorded in Valais Alps by Lawine - tragedy on the Rimpfischhorn
Adlergletscher, Zermatt, Schweiz - On May 25, 2025, five ski tourers were found dead at the Rimpfischhorn in the Valais Alps. The group had apparently been hit by an avalanche, which is a dramatic tragedy in the region. Two alpinists who were traveling at around 4000 meters on Saturday, discovered abandoned skis, which they prompted to alert the rescue workers, as Vol.at
In the subsequent search, the lifeless bodies were found on the eagle glacier. The emergency services localized three of the deceased about 500 meters of altitude below the saddle on a avalanche cone, while two other ski tourers were discovered about 200 meters higher on a snow surface. An emergency doctor could only determine the death of the people, and the identification of the victims was not yet complete at the time of the report.
Investigations and weather conditions
The public prosecutor's office of the canton of Valais has initiated an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the fatal avalanche situation. It is expected that the adverse weather conditions with strong winds and low temperatures will be part of the investigation. As watson.ch led to the localization of the five alpinists after the two alpinists had made alarming discoveries.
In addition, another tragic incident occurred on the same day: a 29-year-old ski tourer died at an avalanche on the Morgenhorn in Kandersteg. Alpinists were also affected here, and the cantonal police started investigations into the circumstances. The statistics show that an average of 33 people in Switzerland are in charge of winter sports away from the slopes, with about two thirds of the deaths to be due to avalanches, according to the information from Alpenverein.de .The avalanche risk in skiing
According to current studies, ski touring is considered more dangerous than driving. In Switzerland, one of 23,000 active tourers dies in an avalanche in Switzerland. The avalanche risk is considered under different conditions. With an avalanche risk level of 3, the risk is significantly increased, which results in a higher number of accidents. Men have three times higher avalanche risk than women on ski tour days.
The latest incidents are reminiscent of how important security and risk awareness are in dealing with the challenges of mountain sports, especially in times of increased avalanche risk. The combination of increasing number of participants and unfavorable weather conditions represents a significant source of danger that should be taken seriously by the athletes.
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| Ort | Adlergletscher, Zermatt, Schweiz |
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