A summary of public reports, written by Ski in Sky and checked against each source. It is not an official investigation, and it may change as investigations continue.
What happened
About 10:00 an operating high-speed lift stopped and about 80 riders were left on it (other reports say 77, or more than 70). 49 were brought down with poles and similar equipment; the others got off after the lift was restored around noon, and all were off by 12:18. Riders said their hands and feet went numb at about minus 10 degrees. Three people who complained of cold and feeling unwell were taken to hospital; they appeared to have mild symptoms. Police said a mechanical fault was possible.
About 10:00 is when the lift stopped; everyone was off by 12:18.
Where
On a runA high-speed lift at Yakebitai ski area, Hirao, Yamanouchi town (Shiga Kogen).
Known only to the ski area.
Link to the ski area
Inside the managed area of Shiga Kogen
Snippet: '山ノ内町平穏の焼額山スキー場で営業中の高速リフトが停止' (an operating high-speed lift at Yakebitai ski area stopped). A lift in service is inside the managed area.
People
Died0
Injured—Not reported
Rescued49
Not confirmed
- Cause: early reports say a possible mechanical fault; a later headline says too much snow (at the unloading point, per one search summary).
- Number stranded (about 80, 77 or more than 70 in different reports).
- Whether the three taken to hospital were hurt or only chilled.
- 49 lowered by rope: in earlier-review snippets only; this review saw 'all rescued' and about 80 stranded.
- Lift stopped; police said a mechanical fault was possible (police, reported) (reported by NTV NNN (via Yahoo! News); that source could not be re-checked).
- A later Shinano Mainichi headline gives the cause as too much snow (原因は雪の降りすぎ) (reported by Shinano Mainichi Shimbun; that source could not be re-checked).
Sources
- Shinano Mainichi Shimbun ↗ · 2025-02-22checked in search results
- Shinano Mainichi Shimbun ↗
- NBS Nagano Broadcasting (via Yahoo! News) ↗
- NTV NNN (via Yahoo! News) ↗
- SBC Shinetsu Broadcasting (via Yahoo! News) ↗
- livedoor News (reprint) ↗
- Shinano Mainichi Shimbun ↗ · 2025-02-22checked in search results
This record was checked against search results for these reports (date, place and outcome); the original articles could not be opened.
Last checked against the sources on 2026-10-22.