Japan | Australian family of four OK after night on mountain

A family of four believed to be from Australia has been rescued after becoming lost on a ski resort in central Japan, where they survived the night reportedly inside a hole they dug in the snow.

Police said yesterday that the family — a woman in her 50s and her three sons — went off course while skiing near the 1,650-meter peak of Nozawa Onsen ski resort the previous day. Rescuers were unable to find the family Monday night, but found them walking down a hiking trail early yesterday.

Media reports say the family dug a hole in the snow and sat inside it.

Police spokesman Yuichiro Miyasaka said the four appeared to be unhurt, but were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. It was not known whether they knowingly skiing outside the designated areas, which some skiers do to try unbeaten tracks. Police have cautioned against going off course because of a growing number of accidents and searches.

Television footage showed the four wrapped blankets as they were escorted to ambulances.

A rescue official said the four were shivering a lot when they were found. “They don’t seem to have carried any food or supplies, so I believe they had a rough night,” the official, whose name was not given, told public broadcaster NHK and other TV stations.

The rescue comes after a strong snowstorm hit northern Japan over the weekend, leaving five people dead and injuring nearly 70 people across the country, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. AP