According to multiple media reports, at around 2:30 p.m. on December 23, a Chinese female tourist fell and died in snow at a ski resort in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
It is reported that the woman was rescued and taken to the hospital, and was subsequently pronounced dead. Police said the deceased was a 27-year-old Chinese female tourist surnamed Fu. Some netizens broke the news that the ski resort involved was Kagura Ski Resort.
On the afternoon of the 24th, the reporter contacted a ski instructor and the manager of a hotel next to the Kagura Ski Resort in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture Chen Kuan (pseudonym). After being asked about this, Chen Kuan replied: "It did happen yesterday, and the news in Japan has been broadcast for the past two days. According to her understanding, Ms. Fu inhaled powder snow after falling, causing suffocation, "and there was no avalanche".
In recent years, the popularity of ice and snow sports has not decreased, and skiing has gradually become popular. But there's no denying that it's still a recognized high-risk sport.
The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Niigata made a statement
The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Niigata issued an announcement on the 23rd, reminding Chinese citizens in the consular district to strengthen security precautions in winter.
The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Niigata reminded that natural disasters occur frequently in Japan, and the winter weather in Niigata, Yamagata, and other prefectures in the consular district is complex and changeable, with more rain and snow. If you choose to travel independently, please pay attention to the local weather forecast and disaster information released by the government at any time, and plan your travel route. If you choose to go on a group tour, please choose a travel agency with formal qualifications, arrange the itinerary reasonably, and pay attention to keeping the mobile phone number of the tour guide, tour leader, driver, hotel address, telephone number and other information. Chinese tourists who are recreational skiing should prepare necessary equipment such as cold protection, do what they can, do not blindly experience new projects, and try to avoid acting alone to prevent accidents, casualties, lost and other dangers.
The tip also said that some roads in the consular district are narrow, steep, and full of snow, making it easy to slip on the road. Chinese tourists traveling by car should choose a suitable vehicle, strictly abide by traffic rules, drive cautiously, and be sure to slow down on ice and snow roads.
On the 23rd, a Chinese female tourist died of suffocation due to snow burial while skiing in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. After the accident, the Chinese Consulate General in Niigata attached great importance to it, dispatched personnel to the scene and asked the Japanese police to investigate the cause of the accident in depth. The consulate general said that it has contacted the families of the victims and will assist them in going to Japan to deal with the aftermath.
It had snowed overnight the day before the incident
"Yuzawa is Yasunari Kawabata's snow country, famous for its snow. Chen Kuan told reporters that Yuzawa is close to Tokyo and can be reached in one and a half hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo. "The easy access and good quality of the snow attract a lot of skiers. ”
Kagura Ski Resort Photo courtesy of the interviewee
According to Kan, there are no less than 10 large and small ski resorts in the Yuzawa area, but Kagura Ski Resort is famous for its powder snow and is one of the most popular ski resorts in Central Japan. "The reason for this is that the altitude is high, the terrain is superior, and the lowest temperature is only about minus 10 degrees Celsius, and it is generally about minus 5 degrees Celsius during the day. ”
Chen Kuan told reporters that according to his understanding, the accident occurred on an unopened high-level ski slope at Kagura Ski Resort, "If you fall in the snow, if you don't have the right posture, it is very likely that your mouth and nose will be full of snow." Chen Kuan particularly emphasized that many people will think that snow can't hurt people, but the horror of powder snow is that it is like flour, which will be poured into the mouth and nose when the slippery hand falls to the ground, passively inhaled, resulting in suffocation. "In 3 to 5 minutes, the person will be gone. ”
"So when you ski powder snow, you can't ski alone. Chen Kuan said that powder skiing generally requires a professional or experienced person to lead the way, and it is best to have a good technical break. "That way, even if someone is in danger, they can be rescued as soon as possible. He said that because the powder snow is very deep, it is difficult to get up on his own after falling, "When I lose my judgment and can't tell the difference between up and down, I can only rely on my companions to pull it out from the outside." ”
Chen Kuan said that the day before the accident, Kagura had a new night of snow, "so the snow on the mountain yesterday was in a powder state, which will make the skiing gods excited and can 'brush the powder'." It will also make it fun for newbies because yesterday the day was clear, the visibility was very high, the scenery was beautiful, and the powder snow fell on it and it didn't hurt so much. Chen Kuan said that December 23 was indeed a very suitable weather for skiing, but it was also a regrettable day.
Professionals: Powder Cedar is harder to get up after a fall
Under normal circumstances, the snow in the domestic ski resorts is open to the snow in the road, the snow in the south is generally made by snow guns, and the snow in the north is made by pushing snow with a snow shovel, and the most intuitive feeling is that the snow in the road will be relatively hard. Han Yang Hailong, the founder of Happy Square Ski Season, told reporters that the snow outside the road is the opposite of the snow in the road, "If you slip up and are soft and don't hurt if you fall, it is the snow outside the road, which is simply understood as the snow track without human intervention." ”
Han Yang Hailong said that in general, snow resorts in the north will be divided into snow inside and outside the road, "because the snowfall is relatively large, the snow outside the road is easy to accumulate." Han Yang Hailong said that this kind of snow outside the road is often called "powder snow": "Compared with the snow in the road, powder snow is thicker, deeper, very soft, and smooth like flour." ”
Every year, Han Yang Hailong and three or five friends will meet to ski all over the world, powder snow is admired by all skiers, but at the same time, there are risks, "Powder snow and snow in the slope are two completely different feelings, powder snow is sometimes very deep, if the skateboard head is plunged into, it will be more difficult to get up." Han Yang Hailong said that if you ski powder snow in the mountains, there is also a possibility of avalanches when you slide. "In particular, when the snow in the mountains is exposed to the sun, it becomes softer and more prone to avalanches. ”
Han Yang Hailong mentioned that when they go powder skiing, they will carry a ski backpack, so that they can help them get up if they fall. "Adult males will get up faster when they fall on powder snow, but girls may have a harder time, but it also depends on whether they are professional skaters or 'novices', and whether they have powder snow experience. ”
"We have been emphasizing to all the people who consult that skiing is an outdoor extreme sport, and there are many unstable safety factors, including their own, others', and weather, all of which are unpredictable. Chen Kuan said that when receiving every guest who comes to ski, he will remind, "Be sure to abide by the rules of the ski resort, respect nature, and do what you can." ”
Almost every year, Chen Kuan hears that there are accidents in the ski resort, some because they ignore the weather, some ignore the warnings of the snow resort, and are overconfident, "Skiing is not only about having technical ability, but also about having the ability to predict, avoid, save yourself and save him." ”
Therefore, Chen Kuan, who has received many Chinese skiers, advises that when skiing in Japan, you must not enter the no-skiing area of the snow resort, and do not enter the place where the ski resort has posted warning signs. "If you are not familiar with the local mountain shape and road conditions when you are not familiar with the local mountain shape, you can find a regular ski school recognized by the ski resort for guidance, and do not be arrogant. ”
Source丨Xinhuanet, Chao News Editor丨Jiang Zhuyun