Mount Fuji ends hiking season with landslide, two rescues

Mount Fuji, a popular hiking destination in Japan, concluded its summer climbing season on Thursday with a landslide that struck a car park on the mountain's final day. The heavy rainfall and dense mist that accompanied the event marred the climber's final day, but no injuries were reported. The incident occurred in a parking lot at one of Mount Fuji's four main access gates, according to local official Hisayuki Motohashi.

Two hikers were rescued by the Shizuoka police on Thursday. The first individual, believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was found collapsed near the summit on Wednesday while another man, thought to be in his 60s, was discovered fallen on a trail the same day. Details about the individuals' conditions were not disclosed.

Mount Fuji typically welcomes over 200,000 hikers each year, between July and September. Local authorities and mountain guides have posted video footage and photos from the mountain on Thursday morning, revealing access roads and gravel trails drenched in mist and rain. In recent years, stricter access rules have been implemented to manage overtourism, and climbers are now required to spend at least one night at a hut along the trails.