Avalanche Near Zermatt Leaves Five Skiers Dead in Swiss Alps Tragedy
Skiers Caught in Alpine Avalanche Near Zermatt
Winter sports in Switzerland often come with an undercurrent of risk, but the news out of the Valais Alps has left even seasoned locals shaken. Five skiers met a tragic end on the Adler Glacier after what authorities believe was an avalanche incident. Their bodies were discovered after hikers stumbled on a chilling sign: pairs of skis left alone near the snowy slopes of the Rimpfischhorn, a 4,000-meter giant looming close to the glamorous resort town of Zermatt.
The mountain, known for drawing skiers from all over Europe, saw disaster unfold on May 25, 2025. After the abandoned skis were spotted and reported, emergency teams launched a search on both the ground and in the air. Helicopters from Air Zermatt circled the area, zeroing in on suspected sites where a person could be trapped after an avalanche. The searchers encountered rough terrain and shifting snow as they combed the glacier.
The teams uncovered three bodies buried deep within avalanche debris roughly 300 meters down from the ski drop-off point—a grim indicator of the avalanche's force. The other two victims were found higher up on the slope, suggesting the group had been scattered when disaster struck. Rescuers faced dangerous conditions themselves, with avalanche risk lingering even after the slide, making the recovery effort even riskier.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Impact
Valais authorities have launched a full investigation to piece together what happened. Right now, they're looking at both weather data and snow stability reports to figure out whether a natural slide or perhaps a sudden shift in weather played the key role. Given the unpredictable spring weather in the Alps—the kind that can flip from sunny to stormy in minutes—investigators have their work cut out for them. For now, officials are keeping the identities and nationalities of the victims under wraps while they complete formal identification and notify families. Locals talk about a tight-knit skiing community that feels every loss, even when the names are not public yet.
The location, so close to Zermatt, adds another layer. Zermatt’s slopes are famous beyond Switzerland, attracting well-heeled tourists and skilled mountaineers alike. Even in late spring, the allure of high-altitude powders brings people up to the Adler Glacier, but this tragedy is a stark reminder: the Alps, no matter how breathtaking, don’t offer guarantees for anyone venturing into the backcountry.
Meanwhile, another *avalanche* struck the Morgenhorn mountain near Kandersteg, not far from Bern, in a separate incident that same week. This time, a 29-year-old Swiss man lost his life. Two companions suffered injuries but survived. Police from both the Valais and Bern cantons are now working together, exchanging information to understand if there’s a wider regional risk, or if these incidents were purely coincidental—a cluster of bad luck in the unpredictable Alpine spring.
The back-to-back avalanche deaths have sparked conversations among guides and rescue teams around safety awareness and the importance of reading the mountains. As the investigations play out, the Alps’ magnetic pull on skiers endures, but the cost of adventure is as stark as ever for those who push the limits of these wild peaks.