Climbers, seen lower left, wait to be rescued!
According to the news ten climbers have died as strong winds and rain struck two mountains in northern Japan last Friday. Eight of the climbers who died on Mount Tomuraushi were in a group organized by a tourist company, according to Yuji Kikuchi, a spokesman for Hokkaido police. A ninth man was climbing alone. One more climber died on Mount Biei, Kikuchi added.
The weather at the 2,141-meter (7,024-foot) Tomuraushi peak was bad Thursday with strong winds and rain, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency. The temperature in the area was lower than usual.
Yoshiaki Takeda, a local official near Mount Tomuraushi, said it was highly unusual to see such deadly accidents there. The mountain has several shelters. We hear sometimes that climbers sprain their ankles. But we are not aware of such a deadly accident taking place at the mountain in the past.
Police earlier had said one person was missing at Tomuraushi mountain, but Yamasaki said that climber was rescued.
Kyodo News agency said most of the dead were middle-aged climbers, but Yamasaki could not confirm the report. Kyodo and other media said several members of the party that included the dead climbers made it off the mountain safely. There were no reports that any foreigners were among the 10 dead.
Related posts:
