Masayuki Kobayashi and Michio Oikawa vanished from Switzerland's Matterhorn glacier in 1970 after a blizzard appeared suddenly. They were 21 and 22, respectively, at the time. Now, 45 years later, DNA has positively identified the two missing climbers, whose remains were discovered in the Swiss Alps earlier this year.
Both Japanese men were members of the Club Alpin Francais, a mountain sports group. They had a hut at the Hornli base camp, which they left on Aug. 18, 1970. They were headed up the north face of the Matterhorn, and made it almost to the top of the 14,692-foot peak when the blizzard suddenly hit. They were reported missing six days later, according to the New York Times.
"The snow storm lasted a few days, which prevented the rescue teams from searching," Stephane Vouaroux, a Swiss police spokeswoman, said.
Police believe the bodies were discovered due to shrinking glaciers in the region. As the glaciers recede, bodies and other items that have been buried under the ice for decades are becoming exposed. The Matterhorn is known as one of the most dangerous and difficult climbs in the world. Almost 12 people die on the mountain every year, the New York Times reported.
Several lost hikers have recently been discovered on the mountain as more ice melts. A climber who disappeared in 1979 was found in 2013. Prehistoric items have been found in the melting Alps as well, according to Inquisitr, including one man who died more than 5,000 years ago.
The families of the two men have been contacted and informed of the discoveries. Police maintain a database of all the climbers who have disappeared around the Matterhorn since 1925, according to the Japan Times.
