A major search operation is underway on Sunday in Valais to find six people missing since Saturday after a ski hike in the Tête Blanche region, between Zermatt and Arolla. Around 5 p.m., the police communicated that they had not yet been found.
The group of six people left from Zermatt and have been missing since their visit to the Tête Blanche region, Valais police said on Sunday. Saturday around 4 p.m., a family member who came to pick up the group in Arolla contacted the cantonal police, worried about not seeing their loved ones arrive.
At 5:19 p.m., a member of the group managed to contact emergency services. This call allowed its location in the Col de Tête Blanche sector, at approximately 3,500 meters above sea level.
Five of the missing are members of the same Valais family, originally from Val d’Hérens. The sixth person is a Friborg national. According to Le Nouvelliste, these are three brothers, their uncle, their cousin and the friend of one of the brothers, some of whom were preparing the Glacier Patrol. One of them is a member of a municipal executive. They range in age from 21 to 58 years old.
Research is concentrated in the Tête Blanche region, between Zermatt and Arolla. [Google Maps]
Bad weather complicates searches
As soon as the disappearance was announced, all emergency services were alerted on both sides of the route and numerous technical resources were deployed to locate the hikers, the police said.
>> Read also: Valais police issue warning after several avalanches, including one fatal
However, the storm raging in the south of the Alps as well as the danger of avalanches prevent helicopters and rescue columns from being able to approach the area. An attempted approach by land from Zermatt was undertaken at night by five experienced rescuers. The latter had to give up more than 3000 meters of altitude due to the very bad weather conditions and the risks involved.
All day Sunday, the various specialized units of the cantonal police, in particular the mountain group as well as the technical and telecommunications officers, were engaged alongside the rescuers of the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization and the Valais Air Force. ‘army. Operations will continue overnight.
The police also announced a press briefing on Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the State Chancellery in Sion.
>> Gaël Klein’s explanations in Forum: Six people are still missing after a ski trip near Arolla, in Valais (video) / Forum / 1 min. / yesterday at 7:00 p.m.
>> Read also: Gusts of 180 km/h in the Swiss Alps, some damage noted
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