Local media are reporting two New Zealanders have died in an avalanche on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
Two New Zealanders have been killed by an avalanche while backcountry skiing in Hokkaido, Japan.
Japanese media reported a group of six foreigners were skiing on Mt Yotei when they were struck by the avalanche on Monday.
A third New Zealander was also injured in the incident.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed to the Herald they were aware of the “tragic incident”.
“Following the avalanche, Japanese police have confirmed that two New Zealanders have sadly passed away.
“The New Zealand Embassy has offered consular support to the families of those involved,” the spokesperson said. No further comment would be provided due to privacy reasons.
Japanese police told local media that emergency services in the town of Kutchan received a call for help at about 11am.
A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were reportedly taken in an unresponsive state to hospital, where they were pronounced dead. A third person was injured.
According to snow sport news website Snow Brains, the man and woman were buried under the snow.
The third individual sustained a shoulder injury, but is conscious, the Japan Times reported.
Local media reported the group of six were friends who lived around Niseko.
The Japan Times also reported the Sapporo District Meteorological Observatory stated that no avalanche warning was issued for the Mt Yotei area, nor was it snowing heavily around the time of the incident.
The estimated snowfall for the 48-hour period through the time of the incident was between 5 to 10cm, not conducive to avalanche conditions.
Another local news outlet, the Japan News reported that another avalanche was struck at 12.40pm on Monday at Mt Iwao-nupuri, about 15km west of Mt Yotei.
According to the local fire department, one person believed to be a foreign national was injured at the site.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted to confirm the nationality of the person injured in the second avalanche.
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