A rescue helicopter located a woman lying motionless near the summit of Mount Ryozen, in the border area between Maibara city and Taga town, Shiga province, at 6:50 AM on 20/2.

A Japanese tourist climbing Mount Ryozen on 31/1. *Photo: Yamap*

The victim was identified as Huynh Thi Ngoc Thuy, 32, a Vietnamese national working as a caregiver in Yao city, Osaka province. She was found in a state of clinical death, with cardiac and respiratory arrest, and was rushed to a Shiga provincial hospital but passed away three hours later.

According to Hikone police station, Thuy began climbing the mountain alone at 1 PM on 19/2. By 10 PM that same day, Thuy called the police requesting rescue, stating she "could not descend the mountain". Police and fire services immediately launched a search operation.

There were no injuries on the victim's body. Although she had climbing equipment, her attire was insufficient to withstand the cold of the snowy mountain at night. Mount Ryozen is nearly 1,100 meters high, with temperatures dropping below 0 degrees Celsius at night and snowfall. Japanese authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.

By Hong Hanh (Chunichi/Yahoo)