Climbers discover mummified corpses on Mexico's highest mountain
A Mexican search party has discovered frozen mummified corpses - possibly those of climbers buried in an avalance almost half a century ago - near the peak of the country’s highest mountain.
The first body was discovered on Monday when climbers spotted a frozen skull just 1000 feet (310 metres) from the peak of metre Pico de Orizaba.
When a dozen mountaineers went to investigate, they discovered a second mummified body just 500 metres away.
According to locals, the well-preserved bodies may be those of two Mexican climbers who disappeared in an avalanche 55 years ago.
Several relatives of missing climbers from Spain and Germany have contacted Mexican authorities.
Juan Navarro, mayor of the town of Chalchicomula de Sesma, near the mountain in central Puebla state
said pieces of clothing found on the body could help to identify them.
The bodies have not yet been recovered from the mountainside, with rescue efforts hampered by bad weather.
"It was impossible to conduct the rescue this time. Fog prevented the work,” Mr Navarro told local media.
News break – March 07
