Belgian climbers found on Swiss glacier after 34 years

The remains of two Belgian climbers, Marcel Bastyns and Jos Van Deun, have been recovered from the Trift Glacier in the Swiss Alps after 34 years. A hiker discovered the remains on July 26 near the village of Saas-Grund in the Valais region.

DNA profiling conducted by the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Valais Hospital in Sion confirmed the identities of the mountaineers. The men, aged 39 and 41 at the time, disappeared in September 1992 while attempting to climb the 4,017-meter Weissmies peak. Their disappearance followed a period of extremely poor weather during their ascent.

The discovery is part of a growing trend where retreating glaciers, accelerated by rising temperatures, reveal remains of individuals lost decades ago. Swiss authorities note that the canton has maintained a register of missing persons in high mountain regions since 1925.