Seven Snowboarders Missing - Japan

Hopefully it's just a REALLY long safety stop... :(
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/sev...090358776.html

Seven snowboarders missing in Japan: police

February 5, 2008 - 6:08AM

Seven Japanese snowboarders are missing in the mountains, with rescue efforts hampered by fierce blizzards, police said Monday.

The snowboarders aged from 30 to 40 failed to descend Sunday from the ski resort of Osorakan in Hiroshima prefecture, about 700 kilometres west of Tokyo, a police spokesman said.

Police received a call around midnight after the seven men did not return as scheduled late Sunday. They are not believed to have prepared to stay in the snowy mountains overnight.

About 100 rescuers searched for the snowboarders but finished the hunt Monday without clues as to their whereabouts, the police spokesman said.

"It was a terrible blizzard today, so bad that rescuers couldn't even walk," said the spokesman. "Some helicopters also were dispatched but had to return."

The rescuers will be joined by troops to continue searching for the men on Tuesday, he said.