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'Six killed' in Swiss avalanche Swiss recruits die in avalanche
(about 2 hours later)
An avalanche in central Switzerland has killed at least six people, Swiss emergency workers say. An avalanche in central Switzerland has killed six army recruits, the Swiss military has told the BBC.
Two teams of three climbers were buried by the avalanche on the northern flank of the Jungfrau mountain, 90km (55 miles) south-east of the capital, Bern. Eight others were rescued after the avalanche struck on the northern flank of the Jungfrau mountain, 90km (55 miles) south-east of the capital, Bern.
They had scaled about 3,800m of the 4,158m (13,642ft) peak when the avalanche occurred at 1000 (0800 GMT). The men had scaled about 3,800m of the 4,158m (13,642ft) peak when the accident occurred at 1000 (0800 GMT).
Rescuers said the victims were Swiss army recruits on a training exercise. The army could not confirm this. The team was said to be on a routine training exercise and was following a commonly used route.
The bodies of all six victims have been recovered. Well-equipped
A spokesman for Rega rescue services in Switzerland told the BBC that eight people had escaped unharmed, after being winched off the mountain to safety. Swiss defence ministry spokeswoman Kirsten Hammerich told the BBC that the recruits were in their 17th week of a 21-week training programme.
The Swiss army is expected to give a news conference in the nearby town of Lauterbrunnen shortly. She said they were well-equipped, adding that an investigation would be launched into what triggered the avalanche.
The bodies of all six victims have been recovered. The eight survivors escaped unharmed and were winched to safety to the nearby town of Lauterbrunnen, rescue workers said.
The accident is one of the worst in the Swiss mountains in recent years.