SANTIAGO, Chile, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Five foreign tourists died in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia while hiking a challenging trekking circuit and were caught in severe weather conditions, authorities said.
A distress message posted in the Facebook group "Torres del Paine, Chile" triggered a rescue operation late Monday that ended with the deaths of two Mexican tourists, two Germans and a British woman, while four other people were found alive.
The message, written by another hiker in the area and shared by guides, shelters and tourism agencies, quickly reached local authorities, who reported that a group of nine tourists had gone missing on one of the park's most difficult routes in one of its highest areas about 3,900 feet above sea level.
It was also key that a tourist activated the Garmin SOS system on their watch, which sent a message to the United States, reported the outlet Emol. From the headquarters of the U.S. geolocation company, workers issued the alert to the Chilean authorities.
According to reports, the hikers -- who were traveling without a guide -- encountered a phenomenon known as "white wind," with gusts more than 120 mph, heavy snow, rain and below-freezing temperatures. Visibility dropped to zero and the terrain became impassable, preventing them from reaching any of the park's shelters.
