Eight mountain climbers confirmed dead in bad weather in central Japan

Tokyo, May 5 (Xinhua-ANI): Stormy weather has led to the deaths of eight mountaineers belonging to different groups in the Northern Alps in central Japan, local media reported Saturday.

Police in central Nagano Prefecture said a group of six men were found collapsed near Mt. Korenge by a climber early Saturday. They were airlifted to a nearby village and confirmed dead, Kyodo News reported.

The men, possibly in their 60s and 70s, were not prepared for the rain. They are believed to have died of hypothermia.

Also on Saturday morning, a woman was found unconscious on a path near the 2,670-meter Jiigatake Peak. The 62-year-old climber was later confirmed dead.

Police authorities in central Gifu Prefecture also airlifted a group of six mountaineers who had lost contact earlier on Saturday, but one of them died of hypothermia later. The rest were also suffering from hypothermia but they are not in life-threatening condition, local police said. (Xinhua-ANI)