July 12 (Bloomberg) -- Six Swiss military recruits were swept to their deaths by an avalanche today on the south face of Jungfrau, one of Switzerland's most famous mountains.

Eight soldiers who witnessed the 10 a.m. accident were unhurt and brought to nearby Lauterbrunnen, a resort about 40 miles southeast of the capital Bern, Thomas Kenner, a Zurich-based spokesman for Rega, a Swiss rescue foundation, said.

The Swiss defense ministry said a group of recruits from an army mountaineering school were on training maneuvers under the supervision of mountain guides on the Rottalsattel at an elevation of about 3,800 meters (12,468 feet), near the 4,158-meter-high Jungfrau's peak, when they were caught in the avalanche. The region, popular with mountain climbers, skiers and tourists, has had heavy snow the past week at higher elevations.
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Very sad news for those of us that have been fortunate to visit the Jungfrau.