Rescue mission at the Tete Blanche mountain in the Swiss Alps.Photo:Valais cantonal police via AP

Five cross-country skiers have been found dead after going missing over the weekend near Switzerland

Valais cantonal police via AP

Five people have been discovered dead after going missing in the Swiss Alps.

The victims went missing on march 9 after setting off on a hike in Zermatt.VALAIS CANTONAL POLICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mountain rescuers prepare to search the Tete Blanche mountain

VALAIS CANTONAL POLICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Police confirmed the hikers were from the Switzerland canton of Valais area and aged from 21 to 58 years old. A sixth hiker from the group remains missing as the search to find them continues.

According to authorities, one member of the group contacted the emergency services at 5:19 p.m. local time on Saturday, revealing the location of the call in the Col de Tête Blanche sector roughly 3,500 meters above sea level.

Stormy weather conditions however made the search for the missing hikers difficult.

Canton of Valais officials hold a press conference.FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty

General of the Canton of Valais Beatrice Pilloud, head of the Police of the Canton of Valais Christian Varone and director of the Cantonal Valais Rescue Organisation Fredy-Michel Roten attend a press conference by the police in Sion, Switzerland

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty

“The storm raging in the south of the Alps and the danger of avalanches prevent helicopters and rescue columns from being able to approach the area,” police said. “… Around 6:20 p.m. [on Saturday], a relief column set off from Zermatt. She was forced to turn back to an altitude of 3,000 meters due to very bad weather conditions and the risks involved.”

The authorities added that “land actions were suspended”  until the next day “in agreement with the families.”

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Anjan Truffer, the head of Zermatt’s air rescue service, told theBBC"flying is not an option" in the search due to the “very strong winds, heavy snow, high avalanche danger, and zero visibility.”

He shared his theory with the outlet that the hikers most likely went missing as a result of the bad weather, not an avalanche, as the group was located in an area low-risk to avalanches.

source: people.com