SANTIAGO DE CHILE.- Two Mexicans who were participating in an excursion trekking in it Torres del Paine National Park in Chile they lost their lives, while seven other people remain missing.
The Presidential Delegation of the area confirmed that the whereabouts of seven of the tourists, whose nationalities were not specified, who were on an excursion in the Magallanes region, are unknown.
In addition, one person was evacuated yesterday, Monday, when sudden snowfall and strong winds They hit the area.
Two Mexicans die on an excursion in Chilean Patagonia
A man and a woman of Mexican origin lost their lives while carrying out the “O” trekking circuit in Las Torres del Paine; This route includes a complete return to the park.
According to Chilean authorities, the couple was reported missing yesterday, Monday, after heavy snowfall and strong winds suddenly hit the region.
The man’s body was found on Monday, while the woman was found alive but in a state of hypothermia; She died today, Tuesday, when she was being taken to Camp Perros.
The Mexicans were accompanied by a third person, who remains missing. The trio toured the sector The dogs in the parknear the Paso John Gardner.
Seven tourists missing on trekking route in Chile
Regarding the people still missing, local authorities detailed that the unfavorable weather conditions have harmed search and rescue efforts.
“The weather conditions at this time are not suitable for operating in the airway, the helicopter at this time is not in a condition to operate.“said the Carabineros general Marco Alvarado Diazhead of the Magallanes Zone.
“Let’s hope that during the course of tomorrow it will be in flight. However, the conditions would not allow us at this time to carry out any type of aeromedical evacuation or transfer by air.”.
Given the current weather conditions, and with the aim of facilitating the search for missing persons, the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) temporarily closed the sector corresponding to the “O” circuit.
“The search, rescue and evacuation will remain in force until the specialized agencies complete their operations and the adverse weather conditions that currently affect the area improve.“.
The Torres del Paine Park is one of the most important protected areas in Chile, located between the Andes Mountains and the Patagonian steppeknown for its rivers, lakes, glaciers and the rock and granite towers in the Paine Grande summits.
The route where the tragedy occurred is for experienced hikers and requires good physical preparation since both the terrain and the climate are unstable and change without prior or little notice.