Two people have died following an avalanche on the west flank of the Eiger in the Swiss municipality of Lauterbrunnen on Saturday. According to the Bern Cantonal Police, seven people were swept away in the slide.
The Bern Cantonal Police received a report of an avalanche around 1:45pm on Saturday, May 17. Eight people were in the area at the time but one was able to avoid being caught. The victims were in two ski mountaineering groups.
Rescue teams responded, recovered the partially buried individuals, and flew them to a hospital. One man died on the scene and another passed shortly after making it to the hospital. Four other men and one woman were injured in the incident.
The regional public prosecutor’s office is investigating the incident. Formal identification of the deceased is still pending. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the deceased at this time.
