Sad news and a timely reminder from Hokkaido

Three men aged 56, 60 and 63 were unconscious and the wife of the missing man was injured when rescuers arrived on the scene.

According to local reports 12 members of the Japanese Alpine Club were climbing the mountain when the avalanche occurred amid a snow storm shortly after midday.

The local meteorological observatory is beleived to have issued an avalanche warning to the area during Thursday and Friday morning.

The missing man has been identified as Yoichi Sukeda, 68, of Sapporo.

1920m Mt Kamihorokamettoku is part of the Tokachi Volcanic Group in the Daisetsuzan Range in the middle of Hokkaido, among which are the famous ski fields of Furano.