Mystery solved of Japanese climbers missing on Matterhorn since 1970

The remains of two young Japanese climbers missing on the Matterhorn mountain since a 1970 snow storm in the Swiss Alps have been identified through DNA testing of their relatives, police said yesterday.

The two climbers, whose names were not released, were first reported missing August 18, 1970, shortly after they began their ascent of the mountain. The genetic material in the human remains was compared to the DNA of both victims.

In recent years, it’s become increasingly common to discover remains as Alpine glaciers melt. “They were probably surprised by a snow storm when they disappeared”, cantonal police spokesman Stephane Vouardoux told Reuters. They were caught in a snowstorm while heading to climb Matterhorn by the north face, Japan’s Kyodo News service said, citing police records.

Police in the mountainous region keep a list of people who have been reported missing since 1925.

According to Le Nouvelliste, the remains are those of Miskio Oikawa, 21 at the time, and Masayuki Kobayashi, 23.

Japanese authorities said they were making the necessary arrangements to have the remains repatriated. The resort area and iconic peak remain especially popular with foreign climbers.

“Japanese climbers trying to reach the summit of the Matterhorn have disappeared, it is something that has happened these last few decades”, the Japanese official said.

Last year, the remains of British climber Jonathan Conville, missing since 1979, were found near the peak of the 4,478-metre Matterhorn, whose pyramidal shape makes it one of the world’s most recognisable mountains.