Four German skiers die in Switzerland avalanche

An avalanche in southern Switzerland has killed four German skiers.

Police in the canton region of Valais said the group was buried by the avalanche near the village of Fieschertal. Planes and rescue personnel started looking for the group after they were reported missing, but because of severe weather conditions, the bodies were only found and recovered on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the victims haven’t yet been formally identified, but German daily paper Rheinische Post reported that the four were all members of the Duesseldorf section of the German Alpine Association.

At least two of the members were known to be very experienced, the paper reported. Eight rescuers and two helicopter teams were involved in recovering the bodies.