Avalanche kills six Swiss soldiers in Alps

An avalanche killed six Swiss soldiers undergoing specialist Alpine training on Thursday, in one of Switzerland's worst single mountaineering accidents in years.

The incident happened on a snow-covered ridge on the southern flank of the Jungfrau peak in the Bernese Oberland region, Rene Feuz, rescue chief at the Swiss Alpine Club in Lauterbrunnen, told the Swiss news agency ATS.

The soldiers, in their early twenties, were following a proven route to the top of the 4,158 metre (13,642 feet) high Jungfrau, one of Switzerland's best known peaks, when fresh snow gave way, Swiss army spokesman Daniel Laroche said.

"They were on the snow. It's not clear if the snow gave way beneath them or if it came from above," he told AFP.

Eight other soldiers who witnessed the fall from the area at an altitude of 3,800 metres (12,467 feet) were flown out by helicopter, the Swiss air ambulance service REGA said.

Laroche said the group were Alpine specialists who had already undergone 17 weeks' training with the regiment, and were required to have mountain experience beforehand. They were also accompanied by mountain guides.

The weather in the area was fine at the time of the accident, although about 50 centimetres (20 inches) of fresh snow had fallen in the northern Alps since Monday, weather services said.

Swiss Defence Minister Samuel Schmid said an investigation was under way to see if human error led to the accident or if it was due simply to natural causes.

"In such moments, words appear empty," Schmid said at a news conference, expressing his condolences to the families of the soldiers.

Summer is the peak climbing season in the Swiss Alps, attracting climbers from all over the world.

The Jungfrau and the nearby Eiger are renowned tourist landmarks, but they are also regarded as tough challenges even for experienced mountaineers.

Although mountain accidents are common, it is rare for such a large number to die in a single accident. The soldiers who fell were reportedly in two groups of three.