Falling rocks claim life of young climber near summit of Mt. Fuji

KOFU -- A climber was killed after falling rocks apparently struck her in the head as she neared the top of Mount Fuji on Aug. 26, according to the Yamanashi Prefectural Police.

Staff at the mountain's fifth station called emergency services at around 7 a.m. to report "an accident involving falling rocks." The victim was on the mountain trail when it appears she was hit directly in the head by a falling rock. She was confirmed dead at the scene.

According to officers from the Fujiyoshida Police Station, the woman in her 20s was part of a group that started their climb from the Fujiyoshida entrance to the trail on the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain. Due to the accident, the trail was temporarily closed between the Goraiko-kan lodge at the eighth station and the half-way point to the summit for safety inspections.

(Japanese original by Ryutaro Ikawa, Kofu Bureau)