An Israeli hiker was found dead in Japan on Tuesday after going missing during a solo excursion the week before.
Tevel Shabtai, 23, from Modi’in, was last seen in the Daisetsuzan Nature Reserve, specifically in the Mount Asahi area, where she had been traveling alone as part of an extended trip.
Shabtai began her hike up Mount Asahi after taking a cable car and registering at the reserve’s entrance. The weather conditions were reportedly severe when she began her hike, with temperatures ranging from 0 to -5 degrees Celsius, along with snow and strong winds that significantly hampered search efforts following her disappearance.
According to a report from Kan News, Shabtai’s friends lost contact with her last Friday after she called her mother to inform her of the plan to climb the mountain. When her friends and family were unable to reestablish any further contact with her, they contacted the Israeli embassy in Japan.
On Monday afternoon, the embassy alerted the police about her disappearance. A search operation began the following morning at 9 a.m. Magnus, an international search-and-rescue organization, was enlisted to assist in the search.
Magnus coordinated all communication with local authorities in Japan and closely supervised the search process through a local contact. The search efforts included the Japanese police, rescue teams, and volunteers, all supported by a helicopter overhead.
On Tuesday, Magnus announced that, despite intensive efforts, Shabtai was found deceased.
Her cause of death has not been officially confirmed; however, reports indicate that her death may have resulted from the extreme weather conditions Shabtai encountered during her ascent up the mountain.
The rescue team expressed their condolences, stating, “Magnus Search and Rescue shares in the family’s deep grief and continues to support them during this difficult time while assisting local authorities in arranging her burial in Israel.”
AloJapan.com