A British tourist was one of the five people who died when tragedy struck at a popular holiday hotspot on Monday. Local officials confirmed on the afternoon on Tuesday, November 18, that five bodies had been found in Torres del Paine national park in Chile. 

The presidential delegate of Magallanes, José Antonio Ruiz, confirmed that the individuals who were found include two Mexican nationals (one female and one male), two German nationals (one female and one male), and one British national, a female. He said: “We are in the process of evacuation and consular procedures, due to the nationality of these people.”

The delegate explained that arrangements are being made to evacuate the bodies by air. The operation will depend on weather conditions to ensure that the Air Force helicopter can safely carry out the task.

He added that “for people who don’t know the national park, it’s a very large area in hectares, quite difficult to access by car or truck.”

The authority stressed that the decision to close the Paine massif was made specifically for the area where access to the National Park is located.

Torres del Paine National Park, located in Chile’s Magallanes Region about 112 kilometers north of Puerto Natales, is celebrated as one of the country’s most iconic destinations.

Established in 1959, the park spans 181,414 hectares (448,280 acres) and showcases the dramatic landscapes of southern Patagonia, including mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. At its heart lies the Cordillera del Paine, a striking mountain range dominated by the granite towers known as the Torres del Paine, which lend the park its name and global recognition.

More to follow…