Bodies of Two Climbers Found After 34 Years
21st August 2026
The bodies of two Belgian climbers who disappeared in the Swiss Alps over three decades ago have been found after the Trift Glacier melts further in the summer heat. NEW
A hiker found the bodies on the glacier in southern Switzerland, near the Italian border.
DNA analysis has revealed that these are two mountaineers who have been missing since 1992.
The remains of the deceased were taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Valais Hospital in Sion for identification.
By a direct comparison of the DNA profiles, it has been determined that they are two mountaineers who went missing in the Weissmies region in 1992.
The two men were Belgian nationals and 39 and 41 years old at the time of their disappearance.
The cantonal police in Switzerland have maintained a list of missing persons since 1925.
These are mainly people who have disappeared in the high mountains or in rivers and water bodies.
Due to the decline of the glaciers more and more bodies are being found.
- Melting glaciers reveal bodies
- Melting ice in Norway reveals historical artefacts
- Melting Austrian glaciers reveal body on missing skier
- Melting glacier above Zermatt reveals body of another missing person
- Melting Swiss glacier reveals human remains
- Newspapers from crashed plane revealed by melting glacier
The Swiss Alps. Image © PlanetSKI
The rate of glacier shrinkage has been increasing globally since the 1990s and at a particularly accelerated rate since 2000, according to the European Commission’s monitoring body Copernicus.
This melting has been particularly pronounced in Switzerland.
Data from the Swiss Glacier Service, Glamos, reported a further glacier reduction of 3% across 2025, following record years of ice loss in 2022 and 2023.
2026 is expected to be the warmest summer on record in the Alps.
We have reported on it on PlanetSKI over the past few months:
- Another heatwave hits the Alps with damage to glaciers and mountains
- Cooler temperatures return to the Alps but all summer glacier ski areas remain closed
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