Two mummified bodies spotted on Mexico's highest peak

Image
AFP
Last Updated : Mar 06 2015 | 2:22 PM IST
A team of Mexican climbers searching for a frozen body on the country's highest mountain stumbled onto a second mummified cadaver during their expedition today.
The 12 local civil protection mountaineers had embarked on their mission after climbers reported seeing a frozen skull 310 meters (1,000 feet) from the peak of the 5,610-metre Pico de Orizaba on Monday.
The second body was found 150 meters away, and it was also frozen and mummified, said Juan Navarro, mayor of the town of Chalchicomula de Sesma, near the mountain in central Puebla state.
"It was impossible to conduct the rescue this time. Fog prevented the work," Navarro told AFP, adding that only two of the climbers were able to reach the location of the bodies.
After the first body was spotted, Mexican authorities received phone calls from people in Spain and Germany who believe it could be a relative, he said said.
But local officials suspect that the cadavers correspond to two of three Mexicans who went missing after an avalanche 55 years ago.
Pieces of clothing found on both bodies could help identify them, Navarro said.
The recovery effort will resume Friday with the help of a helicopter.
The bodies will be taken to the Puebla state prosecutor's office to undergo DNA identification tests.
The mountain, also known as the Citlaltepetl volcano, is popular among climbers, though some have got lost or suffered fatal accidents in the past.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 06 2015 | 2:22 PM IST

Next Story