The Portuguese government has confirmed the deaths of two Portuguese climbers who lost their lives earlier this week in the Picos de Europa mountains in northern Spain.
The victims, aged 60 and 50, were from Porto and Fafe, Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. Their bodies were found in a high and rugged area known as Espolón de Los Franceses, according to local rescue teams in Cantabria.
Emergency services say the accident happened on Monday, but it took time to confirm their identities. Portuguese officials had to send biometric data to assist in the process.
Rescuers said the alert was triggered by a smartwatch, a mobile phone, and a fellow mountaineer who witnessed the accident. By the time help arrived, both climbers had already died.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow and sent condolences to the victims’ families.
