SEMBOKU, Japan, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A man hired to remove snow at a hot-spring spa in Japan died after being buried by an avalanche that engulfed one of the pools Friday morning.
The snow slide tumbled down a hillside near the Tsurunoyu Onsen Inn in Semboku, Akita Prefecture. Several women were bathing at the time, Mainichi Shimbun reported, and at least two suffered serious injuries.
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Ryota Suzuki, 20, died soon after he was dug out, Kyodo news service said. A co-worker was rescued after being missing for a time.
The inn is in an area in northern Japan well known for its hot springs.
Japan has been having one of its coldest and snowiest winters in years. Scores of people have been killed, some buried when roofs collapsed under snow.
