Five tourists, including a British woman, have been found dead in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park after a severe blizzard with hurricane-force winds engulfed hikers on Monday. The victims comprise one British national, two Mexican nationals, and two German nationals, prompting complex international evacuation and consular procedures.
Chilean authorities discovered the bodies on Tuesday afternoon in the mountainous park near Los Perros camp, located in Chilean Patagonia approximately 1,740 miles south of Santiago. The storm produced wind speeds exceeding 120mph, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, catching visitors off guard in one of Chile's most visited tourist destinations.
An urgent SOS message posted on Facebook group "Torres del Paine, Chile" at 8:30pm Monday evening detailed the desperate situation. A stranded tourist wrote: «We are at Los Perros camp in the Torres del Paine. People were climbing the John Gardner earlier today and the weather has turned very bad. We are snowed in and people are still out on the pass. Very strong wind > 120 mph.»
The message continued: «They left at 6am this morning. We have sent out 20-25 people to rescue people who are still missing. We believe there are at least 5 people who have not been found, one is being rescued now but she is very unresponsive.»
Evacuation and Recovery
Four people were rescued during the search operation involving soldiers and police. Authorities have closed off the affected zone and are preparing to evacuate the bodies by Air Force helicopter once weather conditions permit.
José Antonio Ruiz, presidential delegate of Magallanes, told local media outlet Emol: «We are in the process of evacuation and consular procedures, due to the nationality of these people.» He explained the park's challenging terrain: «For people unfamiliar with the national park, it is a vast area, very difficult to access, whether by vehicle or truck.»
Los Perros camp requires a four-to-five-hour trek from the nearest point accessible by vehicle. Weather forecasts continue to show sleet and strong winds, diminishing visibility for potential rescue operations.
Popular Tourist Destination
Torres del Paine National Park, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978, attracted more than 360,000 tourists in 2023. The park covers 181,414 hectares and is famed for its granite peaks, glaciers, lakes, and wildlife in Chile's Magallanes Region.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric offered condolences on X, describing the incident as a "tragedy." An FCDO spokesperson stated: «We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Chile.»
The local authority is preparing for the repatriation of the British national's body. The demanding "O" Circuit, where the group was stranded near the John Gardner pass, is a popular but difficult route for visitors to the iconic Patagonian park.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
