The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that the Portuguese Embassy in Madrid is in continuous contact with the Guardia Civil. Investigations are currently underway to determine the identity of the two climbers who tragically died in the Picos de Europa mountain range in Spain.
When questioned, the ministry stated that it has not yet been possible to confirm the nationality of the victims.
Official sources in Spain confirmed the Portuguese nationality of at least one victim, following initial reports from the Cantabria government’s sources that both victims were Portuguese nationals.
According to the emergency services of the Cantabrian regional government, the climbers lost their lives in the ‘Espolón de Los Franceses’ area of the Picos de Europa mountain massif.
The victims were “in a high area when the accident occurred,” and the rescue teams deployed could only confirm their death, the 112 Cantabria service reported.
112 Cantabria also noted that the alarm about the accident was raised at approximately 12:45 PM (11:45 AM in Lisbon) via a smart watch and a mobile phone, as well as a mountaineer who witnessed the incident.
A helicopter with a rescue team from the Cantabrian regional government was dispatched to the scene, along with a unit from the Spanish Civil Guard’s Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM).
