HOKKIADO, Japan —- Two skiers from New Zealand, including a 21-year-old ski guide, have been killed in avalanche while backcountry skiing in Japan. A third skier from New Zealand survived with a shoulder injury. All three were residents in the area and worked as a tour guide and seasonal workers.
The slide happen on Mount Yotei in the northern Hokkaido region on Monday morning. A group a six were backcountry skiing when the avalanche struck at an elevation of 650 to 700 meters on the northern side of the mountain.
This is a developing story and we will update when more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and friends.