A Spanish couple has been missing since Saturday on the French side of the Pyrenees, where heavy snowfall has been reported, local police announced today.

Their car was discovered on Monday in a parking area 1,700 meters above sea level, buried under snow. The family dog was found inside the vehicle.

According to initial information, the couple, a 52-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, were heading to a mountain refuge on Friday night to spend the night there. On Saturday, data from mobile phone providers indicated they had taken a trail leading to Pic de la Roue, at an altitude of 2,783 meters. Their mobile phone last sent a signal on the morning of the same day, when they were at an elevation of 2,400 meters. Weather conditions worsened afterward, with fog descending over the area, followed by snowfall.

Relatives of the missing pair notified authorities on Sunday evening.

Police began their search on Monday morning and found the car within a few hours. However, due to ongoing snowfall, a helicopter could only be deployed today. “We are continuing the search, but with snow in some places reaching 1.5 meters deep, conditions are challenging,” said police officer Jean-Marc Galin.