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Backcountry skier at Nozawa Onsen dies after being covered in snow

NAGANO (TR) – A male backcountry skier from Tokyo died on Monday after he became covered in snow and was able to move outside the boundaries of the Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort.

At around 11:30 a.m., a call was made to the police from a national forest outside the area managed by the resort. “A man who was skiing with me is buried in snow and can’t move. Please help me,” the caller said, reports NHK (Dec. 30).

About 10 police mountain rescue teams and others went to the scene and pulled the Norikazu Morita, a 50-year-old office worker from Higashiyamato City, from the snow. However, he was later confirmed dead.

Morita had been backcountry skiing with a friend since that morning. The friend was not injured, police said.

According to the ski resort’s web site, the heaviest snowfall in the area was at an altitude of about 1,400 meters, reaching 240 centimeters. At the time, the Japan Meteorological Agency had issued an avalanche warning for Nozawa Onsen Village.

Nagano Prefecture is urging people to choose a mountain that suits their physical strength, skill and experience when enjoying backcountry skiing, and to always check the weather and snow conditions beforehand.

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.