According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, an avalanche occurred at a ski resort in the hot spring area of Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, around 9:20 a.m. (8:20 a.m. Taiwan time) today. It is known that six high school students have shown no signs of life, and three others are missing.
Japanese media outlets including NHK and the Asahi Shimbun reported that the local fire department stated the avalanche took place at the Nasu Onsen ski resort, where high school students who were hiking were caught in the incident.
The Nasu Shiobara Police Station said that from the 25th to the 27th, the Tochigi Prefectural Sports Federation organized a mountain climbing training session for a total of 57 first- and second-year high school students within the prefecture.
The Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education stated that those caught in the avalanche were students participating in the “Spring Mountain Training Camp” organized by the high school mountaineering clubs within the prefecture. From the 25th to the 27th, approximately 60 to 70 first- and second-year students from seven high schools took part.
The Utsunomiya Local Meteorological Observatory issued a warning around 10:30 a.m. yesterday about the possibility of avalanches and heavy snow in northern Tochigi Prefecture, urging the public to stay vigilant. A meteorological official stated that for about 10 hours from early this morning, there was accumulated snow and higher temperatures, creating conditions conducive to avalanches. 1060327
(Central News Agency)