Mummified mountaineers emerge from ice on Mexican volcano after 50 years

Two mummified mountaineers have been discovered emerging from the ice on a volcano in Mexico.

The remains, which are thought to be at least 50 years old, were found by climbers ascending the Pico de Orizaba volcano in Puebla.

Government officials believe the mummies to be that of two mountaineers who had an accident on the mountain – half a century ago, climbers from Mexico City ran into difficulties on the volcano and were never seen again.

Local media has pointed to two climbers, Juan Espinoza and Enrique García, who were buried by an avalanche in 1959. However, experts say they are also aware of two other climbers who disappeared in an avalanche a year earlier.

Hilario Aguilar, president of the Mexican Alpine Club in Chalchicomula de Sesma, one of the climbers who found the mummies, said they discovered them by accident.

He saw a skull and hand protruding from the ice as he was trying to stop himself from falling.

They were found around 4.3km (2.6 miles) above sea level and the remains will now be retrieved from the mountain by officials and climbers.

According to La Vanguardia, Juan Navarro, mayor of Chalchicomula de Sesma, said another body was found 150m away from the first mummy: "They were very close."

Navarro added they have received calls from several countries, including France, Spain and Germany, about the remains, as all have records of professional climbers being lost on the volcano.

Aguilar, who is head of the rescue expedition, told efoquenoticias.com that they were extremely fragile, almost falling apart to the touch.

He added traces of a red jumper, a sky blue jacket and a backpack from about 1959 were found.