Vietnamese woman dies while climbing mountain in Japan: media

The accident occurred on Thursday on Mount Ryozen in the town of Taga, Shiga Prefecture, Japanese media reported.

The woman, identified as N.T., 32, lived in Yao City in Osaka Prefecture and worked as a caregiver, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

At about 9:50 pm on Thursday, she called Japan's 119 emergency number and said she was unable to descend the mountain on her own. 

She told authorities she had begun climbing at around 1:00 pm that day, police said.

Police and rescue teams began searching for her at approximately 6:30 am on Friday. 

About 30 minutes later, she was found near the summit, off a designated hiking trail, according to police.

She was in cardiopulmonary arrest when located and was airlifted by a disaster response helicopter to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Local authorities said there were no signs of significant external injuries on her body. 

Although she was wearing climbing clothing, it was not sufficient to withstand low nighttime temperatures and harsh conditions in the snowy mountain environment, they said.

Police are continuing to investigate the details of the incident, including her route, weather conditions, and preparations prior to the climb.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and the Vietnamese Labor Management Board in Japan are coordinating with relevant parties to provide consular assistance, a representative of the labor board said, adding that it had contacted the host institution and other agencies to support the victim's family with funeral procedures.