At least five tourists have been killed in a snowstorm in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s southern Patagonia region, and four who were missing have been found alive.
Two Mexicans, two Germans and one Briton were killed, said José Luis Pivucevic, president of Chile’s southernmost Magallanes region. Authorities are working to recover the body.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed his condolences to the victims’ loved ones.
“Please know that we have the full support and cooperation of the Chilean authorities and institutions during this difficult time,” he posted on X.
Twenty first responders, including national police and military teams, have been deployed to the area to assist with rescue and recovery efforts, which have been complicated by severe weather conditions.
Borich said the area was experiencing heavy snowfall and winds of up to 190 kilometers per hour (about 118 miles per hour).
Officials said parts of the national park were closed.
Chile’s National Forest Service announced on Monday that it had received the first missing person report. One person was evacuated later the same day.
Torres del Paine Mayor Anay Cárdenas told Chilean television that the tourists were visiting the park without tour guides.
She described the mountain circuit as “complex” but said the tragedy was likely due to weather conditions.
Guillermo Ruiz, president of Chile’s southern state of Ultima Esperanza, said tourists were getting lost near the Los Perros camp in the park, an area that can only be reached by four to five hours of trekking from the nearest point accessible by car, Reuters reported.
The UK Foreign Office told CNN it was in contact with local authorities following the “incident in Chile”.
Torres del Paine National Park is home to miles of glaciers, turquoise lakes, towering granite mountains, waterfalls, and rare wildlife. This park is known for trekking and attracts tourists from all over the world.
UNESCO recognizes the park as a biosphere reserve, a site useful for conservation and sustainability research.
