Three climbers die scaling volcano in Ecuador

QUITO—Three mountain climbers tumbled to their death while scaling a volcano in Ecuador, authorities said Monday.

Two other people also fell in Sunday’s accident but survived.

The five were climbing the difficult southern face of the Illinizas volcano, which peaks at 5,248 meters.

The fatalities were Ecuadorans ranging in age from 22 to 34, police in the town of Machachi said.

Rescuers had to go in on horseback Monday to recover the bodies because the terrain is so rough and there was so much fog on Sunday.

The climbers slipped on a snowy slope, according to the official report on the accident.