Despite Finding Footprints, Police Believe 3 New Zealand Mount Cook Climbers Who Disappeared Died

Climbers are seeing the beauty of the Mount Cook area of New Zealand from Aoraki National Park. (Luca Calderone-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The police found traces of three climbers of Mount Cook in New Zealand who were declared missing during a search operation with the SAR team.

However, the police believe that the three missing mountain climbers have died.

Footprints were discovered today through drone monitoring called New Zealand police when climbers. The climbers are said to have crossed the slopes below Zurbriggen Ridge on the mountain.

"After reviewing the number of days the climbers were missing, there was no communication, the items we have found, and our reconnaissance today, we are not sure they are safe," local Police Inspector cost Walker, quoted from AFP, Friday, December 6.

"This is certainly not the news we want to share today," he continued.

The three were reported missing five days ago after failing to return from the climb on Mount Cook which has a height of 3,700 meters (12,000 feet).

The climbers were identified as citizens of the United States (US), Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, along with a Canadian whose names were kept secret according to the wishes of the family.

"We're not sure the two men are safe. We're sure they fell," Walker said.

The operation was stopped on the third day of the search given the bad weather. But today, the search is maximized using helicopters and drones along the mountainous terrain.

Previously, the SAR team had found jackets and ice axes among other items that the police said belonged to climbers.