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Three mountain climbers — two from the United States and one from Canada —are believed to have died in a fall on Aoraki, New Zealand's highest peak, according to authorities.
The men have been missing for five days and their bodies have not been found.
The Americans — Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50 — were certified alpine guides, according to the website of the nonprofit American Mountain Guides Association.
New Zealand authorities have not named the Canadian climber at the request of his family.
A settlement of the same name at Aoraki's base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists. (AP: Mark Baker)
The men flew to a hut part-way up the mountain on Saturday to begin their ascent and were reported missing on Monday when they did not arrive to meet their prearranged transport after the climb.
Hours later, searchers found several items believed to belong to the men, but no sign of them, police said.
A search stalled for three days due to treacherous weather conditions in the area.
On Friday, drone operators spotted footprints in the snow and more items that authorities believed belonged to the men, including clothing, an ice axe, and energy gels.
"After reviewing the number of days the climbers have been missing, no communication, the items we have retrieved, and our reconnaissance today, we do not believe the men have survived," Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said.
"We believe they have taken a fall."
"First and foremost, we're thinking of the men's families in the United States and Canada. We have spoken to them today and, as you'd expect, it's not the phone call they wanted to receive.
"I'm devastated for them — the entire search team wanted a positive result."
The search would resume if more evidence came to light, but the men's deaths had been referred to a coroner, Inspector Walker said.
Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, is 3,724 metres tall and is part of the Southern Alps, the scenic and icy mountain range that runs the length of New Zealand's South Island. A settlement of the same name at its base is a destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
The peak is popular among experienced climbers. Its terrain is technically difficult due to crevasses, the risk of avalanches, changeable weather and glacier movement.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park since the start of the 20th century.
AP