Rescue teams have discovered the bodies of five skiers near the upscale Zermatt resort in Switzerland.

The grim find came a day after climbers scaling the 4,199-metre Rimpfischhorn in the Valais Alps reported spotting multiple pairs of skis abandoned close to the summit, prompting emergency response teams to investigate.

A combination of aerial and ground searches led to the recovery of five bodies below the summit on the Adler Glacier, according to a statement by Valais police on Sunday.

The skiers, who were found at different elevations amid avalanche debris near the Swiss-Italian border, had been reported missing a day earlier.

Rescue team Air Zermatt said three of the victims were found in one location, while the other two were discovered further up on a narrow snow-covered section.

A fifth set of skis was later recovered, confirming the group had been traveling together.

Their identities have not yet been made public, and the public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.

Zermatt, known for its upscale appeal and international visitors, is also a starting point for more demanding climbs like the 4,199-metre Rimpfischhorn, which typically requires an overnight stay in a mountain hut and a five-hour ascent from the resort.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident Friday night, Air Zermatt conducted a difficult rescue operation on the Fiescherhörner, where four climbers were trapped by fog and strong winds.

Although the first evacuation attempt was unsuccessful, all four were safely rescued in a second mission just after midnight.