Hotel manager, employees die in suspected gas poisoning at Japanese hot spring

The victims were found unconscious on Tuesday in a high-toxicity gas zone near a hot spring resort in Fukushima City and were later pronounced dead, local officials confirmed.

According to Kyodo News, the three men, identified as a hotel manager in his 60s and two employees in their 50s and 60s, went missing Monday afternoon after venturing into the nearby mountains for hot spring maintenance.

The hotel stated that the maintenance check was a routine procedure conducted every two weeks, Asahi Shimbun reported.

Rescue operations were hampered by dangerously high levels of hydrogen sulfide, a hazardous byproduct of volcanic hot springs.

Due to the toxic conditions, search team members had to use oxygen tanks during the operation, Japan Times reported. While the exact cause of death remains under investigation, authorities suspect the men inhaled the gas.

Situated about 15 kilometers west of central Fukushima City on the slopes of the Azuma mountain range, Takayu Onsen is a high-altitude hot spring area often referred to as the "Kusatsu of Tohoku." The location is famous for its sulfur-rich waters, believed to have health benefits such as pain relief for joint issues and hypertension.

However, hydrogen sulfide poses a serious risk.