Two Mexican and three European tourists die in Chilean Patagonia after being surprised by a storm
They are a Mexican man and woman, a German man and woman, and a British woman
At least five tourists died in Torres del Paine National Park, in Chilean Patagonia, after being surprised by a storm.
They are a Mexican man and woman, a German man and woman, and a British woman, as confirmed this Tuesday by the Presidential Delegation from the Magallanes region.
They were all part of the group of nine tourists reported missing on Monday in this mountainous area of ??southern Chilean Patagonia.
The remaining four were found alive, and the search operation was concluded, authorities reported.
The visitors were hiking the Los Perros circuit, a difficult-to-access area, where severe weather conditions occurred, with heavy snowfall and strong winds of almost 200 km/h.
Authorities began negotiations with the diplomatic missions of the respective countries for the repatriation of the bodies.
The Prosecutor's Office authorized the transfer, and an evacuation operation was activated that will prioritize air transport, provided weather conditions allow the Chilean Air Force helicopters to operate.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
“Know that you have the full cooperation of the Chilean authorities and institutions in these difficult times,” he expressed in a message posted on the social network X.
Complicated Route
On the route where the incident occurred, both the terrain and the weather are unstable, so it is only recommended for experienced hikers with good physical preparation, reported the EFE news agency.
Located between the Andes Mountains and the Patagonian steppe, about 60 kilometers from the city of Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine National Park is one of Chile's most outstanding protected areas, as well as a major tourist attraction.
In addition to the Paine Grande peaks, Named for its famous granite and rock towers, the park is home to rivers, lakes, and glaciers that create a breathtaking natural landscape. This protected area received 380,000 visitors, mostly foreigners, during the 2024-2025 season. In 2013,Torres del Paine was selected by National Geographic magazine as the fifth most beautiful place in the world, and also as the eighth wonder of the planet by the Virtual Tourist website. Click here to read more stories from BBC News Mundo. Subscribe here to our new newsletter to receive a selection of our best content of the week every Friday. You can also follow us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and our new WhatsApp channel. And remember that you can receive notifications in our app. Download the latest version and activate them.