Record 3,111 People Lost in Mountains in Japan in 2017

June 21, 2018

Tokyo- The number of people who got lost in mountains in Japan stood at 3,111 last year, its highest level on record, police data showed Thursday.

The number of cases in which people got lost in mountains came in at 2,583, also hitting the highest level since comparable data became available in 1961, the National Police Agency said.

The number of people who died or went missing in mountains also hit a record high, at 354.

By prefecture, Nagano topped the list of reported cases, at 292, followed by Hokkaido, at 236, and Yamanashi, at 161.

Some 70 pct of people who got lost in mountains were climbers, and about 10 pct were vegetable pickers.

People aged 60 or older made up about half of those who got lost in mountains, including 741 people in their 60s, 669 people in their 70s, 165 people in their 80s and 13 people aged 90 or older.

The number of people who died in mountains rose by 37 from the previous year to 315, while the number of those who went missing fell by two to 39.

Nearly 60 pct of those who died, or 179, and some 80 pct of the missing people, or 31, were alone in mountains.

The number of foreigners who got lost in mountains hit a record high of 121, nearly triple the 44 people recorded in 2013 when comparable data became available.

Some foreigners were dressed lightly, unaware of unpredictable weather in Japanese mountains, an NPA official said.

In cooperation with private groups, Japanese police are handing out leaflets in foreign languages calling on foreigner climbers to submit plans and dress in full gear. Jiji Press