Two individuals lost their lives in "Northern Japan Avalanche"!

The authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the two individuals who lost their lives in an Avalanche in Hokkaido, Japan, were citizens of New Zealand.

Northern Japan Avalanche

Joshua Sellens, a 33-year-old tour leader, and Isabella Bolton, 21, both residing in Kutchan, tragically lost their lives in a Devastating Avalanche on Mt. Yotei. This majestic mountain, towering at an impressive height of 1,898 meters, spans across several towns including Kutchan and Niseko. The unfortunate incident occurred while the group of six individuals, including Joshua and Isabella, were engaging in backcountry skiing.

Three individuals in the group were caught in the avalanche on Monday morning, precisely on the northern slope, slightly above the midpoint of the mountain. It is worth mentioning that the hill was not designated or prepared for skiing activities.

According to local authorities, Lars Meier Blattner, a 21-year-old resident of Rankoshi, New Zealand, suffered a shoulder injury.

According to the findings of a field survey carried out on Tuesday by the Hokkaido branch of the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice, the event was classified as a "surface avalanche." This type of avalanche occurs when a recent layer of snow detaches and moves downwards, with measurements indicating a length of around 2 kilometers and a width of up to 20 meters.