Three Resort Workers Die in Suspected Gas Poisoning Near Japanese Hot Spring
Three workers at a resort in north-eastern Japan have tragically lost their lives in what authorities suspect was an incident involving toxic gas inhalation near a popular hot spring.
The victims, employees of a nearby hotel, were discovered on Tuesday in a mountainous area close to Takayu Onsen, a well-known hot spring near the city of Fukushima. Reports indicate that the area has recorded high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide, a naturally occurring but potentially lethal gas produced by volcanic hot springs.
Hydrogen sulphide, responsible for the distinctive sulphurous aroma of Japan’s onsen resorts, is known for its health benefits in small amounts, such as alleviating high blood pressure and joint pain. However, in high concentrations or enclosed spaces, it can be extremely hazardous. According to authorities, there is a strong possibility that the men inhaled dangerous levels of the gas, as reported by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
The victims included the manager of Kagetsu Highland Hotel, a staff member, and the managing director of the hotel’s operating company. They were conducting routine maintenance checks at the hot spring’s source when the fatal accident is believed to have occurred.
Concerns arose on Monday evening when the men, all in their 50s and 60s, failed to return from their scheduled maintenance duties. Authorities launched a search and discovered their bodies the following day, lying in the snow near a mountain trail.
Weather conditions at the time were severe, with snow accumulating from 110 cm on Monday to 146 cm by Tuesday. Temperatures had also dropped sharply to as low as -7.7°C, according to Kyodo News.
Junichi Endo, chairman of the Takayu Onsen Tourism Association, suggested that the heavy snowfall might have contributed to the incident by trapping hydrogen sulphide in the area. Professor Takeshi Oba, a specialist in volcanic gases at Tokai University, explained to NHK that geothermal heat can cause accumulated snow to melt, creating depressions where the heavier-than-air gas can collect to dangerous levels.
Due to the risk of toxic gas exposure, approximately 20 firefighters and police officers involved in the search operation had to wear breathing apparatus to ensure their safety.
This tragedy echoes a similar incident in 2015 when three maintenance workers lost their lives at a hot spring resort in Akita Prefecture under comparable circumstances. Authorities continue to investigate the official cause of death and assess safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
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