Swiss police say a total of six people have died after an unexpected snowstorm trapped a group of Alpine hikers in south-western Switzerland.
The victims were identified as five Italians and a Bulgarian woman.
The regional Valais police department said one other person remains in critical condition following the sudden blast of snow and high winds in the Pigne d’Arolla region.
The storm left a total of 14 hikers spending the night from Sunday to Monday out in the cold with no shelter.
The sixth victim was a 59-year-old Italian man, who was guiding a group of 10 hikers and fell to his death at the site.
Police said a 72-year-old Swiss woman, a 56-year-old French woman, and a 43-year-old Italian woman remain in hospital.
The sudden bad weather trapped two groups of hikers who had been trying to reach the Vignettes hikers’ hut at 3,157 metres (10,357 feet) in the Alps, forcing them to spend the night under the elements amid freezing temperatures.
Three French people, a German woman and an Italian man suffered light injuries from hypothermia.
Europe has experienced turbulent weather recently, with unseasonable spells of hot and cold temperatures.
