Avalanche toll rises to four

November 29th, 2007

Avalanche toll rises to four

THREE victims of Friday's avalanche near Furano were pronounced dead when rescuers arrived, and the missing man's body was found under 2m of snow.

The deceased were all of Sapporo and were climbing 1920m Mt Kamihorokamettoku in with eight other members of the Japanese Alpine Club when the avalanche occurred amid a snow storm shortly after midday.

Of the four in their 50s and 60s, two men and a woman were found in a tent where they were left by others after they lost consciousness.

They had been rescued by other climbers but had to be left on the mountain overnight because of the risk rescuers could be involved in a second accident, according to police.

The Yomiuri Shumbin reported the leader of party said he did not anticipate any avalanche danger because signs showed that a snowslide had already occurred less than a day before.

Party leader Kiyoshi Nakamura spoke at a press conference at the rescue party's makeshift base at a hot spring and lodge in Kamifuranocho, just after 1.30pm Saturday after the end of the search.

"Just before the avalanche happened, it appeared, judging from the surface of the snow, that there had already been an avalanche less than a day before," Nakamura said.

"This would normally mean there wouldn't be another avalanche for some time."

Nakamura went on to say that the party moved to a different point close by, and the avalanche occurred as he was deciding whether to continue the climb or turn back.

"Looking back, my decision was overoptimistic," Nakamura said.

"[The four that died] were all wonderful people and it's such a shame," he added. "I can't hold my head up high."

Three members, Kazuo Suzuki, 63, Setsuko Tsuruoka, 56, and Nobuya Yoshizawa, 60, all of Sapporo, died of asphyxiation, the Hokkaido police said Saturday.