Swiss glacier melt reveals bodies of two Belgian hikers missing since 1992

Authorities in Switzerland have confirmed that two bodies discovered on a glacier in the Swiss Alps are those of two Belgian mountaineers who went missing in 1992. The remains were found on 26 July on the Trift Glacier, south of the city of Lucerne, by a hiker who alerted the police.

DNA analysis later identified the deceased as two men aged 39 and 41 at the time of their disappearance. They had been reported missing after going on a climbing expedition in the vicinity of the Weissmies mountain, a popular peak in the Saas Valley that rises to over 4,000 metres.

The Valais regional police, who handle one of Switzerland's largest mountain rescue operations, said in a statement that a recovery team was dispatched to the site. The bodies were subsequently transported to a hospital in the canton's capital, Sion, for formal identification and further procedures.

This discovery highlights the accelerating retreat of Swiss glaciers, a phenomenon that scientists largely attribute to climate change. According to Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland (Glamos), Swiss glaciers lost nearly a quarter of their volume in the decade leading up to 2025. The rate of shrinkage has been increasing globally since the 1990s, with a particularly sharp acceleration after 2000, as documented by the European Commission's Copernicus monitoring body.

The melting has exposed not only geological features but also the remains of people who vanished in the mountains decades ago. In 2023, human remains found on a glacier near the Matterhorn were confirmed to be those of a German climber missing since 1986. Such discoveries have become more frequent as ice retreats, forcing police to work closely with forensic experts to identify the deceased and notify families.

Regional authorities maintain a database of missing persons dating back to 1925, with the majority of cases involving mountaineering accidents, river drownings, or other outdoor incidents. The recent finds underline the enduring vulnerability of those who venture into high-altitude terrain, as well as the profound environmental changes reshaping the Alps.

In 2025, Glamos reported a further 3% reduction in Swiss glacier volume, following record losses in 2022 and 2023. Warmer temperatures at high altitudes and reduced snowfall have not only exposed remnants of past tragedies but also threatened the viability of ski resorts and winter sports competitions across the country.