Zagreb, 6 October 2025 (Hina/MIA) - All three Croatian mountaineers who had been missing after an avalanche in Slovenia's Julian Alps have been confirmed dead, the Croatian and Slovenian interior ministers said Monday in Bohinj.

After Slovenian rescue teams found the first body on Sunday, the bodies of the other two mountaineers were discovered Monday under the peak of Mount Tosc in the Julian Alps.

"The bodies have not yet been officially identified, and one more body still needs to be evacuated from the mountain," Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović said.

The first of the two newly found bodies was flown down to the valley in the morning, while the second is still awaiting helicopter transport. The two bodies were about 180 metres apart, said Miha Arh, head of the mountain rescue service in Bohinj.

One mountaineer was found about one metre under the snow, the other more than 1.5 metres.

Arh explained that the accident was partly caused by still-warm ground, which prevented the snow from adhering firmly. "The avalanches occurred spontaneously, without a specific trigger. The area is grassy and the ground was relatively warm, so the snow did not stick, and the wind created drifts."

Rescue teams from Jesenice and Bohinj were involved in the operation. Military helicopters and tracking dogs were also deployed, and Croatian authorities offered assistance, Božinović said, "although we know Slovenians are better trained and more experienced in mountain rescue."

Božinović added that the Croatian government, the prime minister and the ministers of defence and foreign affairs maintained intensive contact with Slovenian services, and they had hoped for better news. "But unfortunately, that was not the case," he said, thanking Slovenian teams for their extensive efforts.

The group included seven Croatian mountaineers, four of whom decided not to venture to the top and stayed at a mountain lodge. Arh noted that the four assisted rescuers by indicating the location of their colleagues buried under the snow. "Our team later escorted them to Pokljuka to ensure their safety."

All three deceased mountaineers were from Split and the surrounding area.