Two Women Die After Being Found Collapsed Near River in Hokkaido Mountains

Hokkaido, Aug 24 :  Two women have died after being found collapsed near the Satsunai River in the Hidaka mountain range of Hokkaido on Saturday, police confirmed.

Authorities said the victims, identified as Chieko Koyama, 66, of Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture, and Chiyoe Kamei, 78, of Tokyo, are believed to have been involved in a mountaineering accident while attempting to climb Mount Kamuiekuchikaushi, one of Japan’s most challenging peaks.

According to reports, at around 3 p.m. a hiker discovered one of the women collapsed on the riverbank and alerted police. A helicopter search team later located her at 4:30 p.m., before spotting the second woman an hour later nearby. Both were transported to a hospital but were pronounced dead.

Police said there were no major external injuries on their bodies, though both were found with wet clothing, suggesting they may have slipped into the river. Investigators are working to determine whether the women were climbing together or separately.

The site where the women were found lies about six kilometers upstream from the Satsunai River Hut, a known waypoint for climbers of Mount Kamuiekuchikaushi, which rises 1,979 meters above sea level.

Nicknamed “Kamueku” among mountaineers, the mountain is regarded as one of Japan’s toughest climbs, with treacherous river-crossing routes and steep, rocky terrain. Police have urged caution for climbers tackling the mountain, especially during summer when river levels can rise unexpectedly.