Switzerland confirms identity of couple found on glacierJuly 19, 2017 - 17:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - DNA tests have established that the remains found on a receding glacier last week in the Swiss Alps were of a couple that disappeared 75 years ago, police said Wednesday, July 19, according to AFP. "The remains recovered on the glacier have been formally identified," police in Switzerland's Valais canton said in a statement. "They are of Mr. Marcelin Dumoulin and his wife Francine Dumoulin, who disappeared tragically on August 15, 1942." The couple had left their home in the village of Chandolin that morning hoping to check in on their cattle, which were being kept in an alpine pasture in neighbouring Bern canton. The fastest route at the time was via a glacier footpath. The sky was clear when the couple set out, but clouds later worsened visibility and the couple vanished, likely after falling into a crevasse, orphaning five sons and two daughters. They were discovered last Thursday -- preserved in the Tsanfleuron glacier at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 feet) -- by an employee of a local ski resort. Backpacks, a watch and other personal belongings had been preserved in the ice nearby. One of their surviving children, Monique Gautschy, told AFP that police called to inform her of the definitive identification early on Wednesday. Relatives have said that the discovery would finally give them a chance for closure and to organise the funeral that the Dumoulins never received. That funeral will happen Saturday, Gautschy said, adding that she "would love to see them before then, just to embrace them." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |