Body of Israeli hiker missing in Peru found

Peru’s national police force says the body of an Israeli hiker who disappeared nearly a month ago has been located high in the Andes.

Rescue teams, including an Israeli crew that flew to the South American country, had conducted wide searches for Oren Zamir for several weeks until he was found Sunday.

Tras ardua labor de búsqueda, agentes del Departamento de Alta Montaña Áncash localizaron el cuerpo sin vida del ciudadano israelí, desaparecido en el corredor del nevado de Huayhuash. Enviamos nuestras condolencias a sus seres queridos en este momento de dolor. pic.twitter.com/wA5nJx6HU6

— Policía Nacional del Perú (@PoliciaPeru) May 12, 2024

Zamir had been hiking in the Huayhuash mountain range north of Lima when he went missing in mid-April.

According to national broadcaster RPP, Zamir’s body was found near Lake Mitucocha, an area some 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) up, and there were suspicions he may have fallen from a height of around 100 meters while climbing through the rugged region.

An autopsy is set to be performed before his body is transferred to his family for burial, presumably in Israel, RPP reports.