SWITZERLAND: Mont Blanc fall claims Japanese alpinist, 68

PARIS, France (The Japan Times - Kyodo), August 24, 2008: A Japanese climber died Friday in a fall on Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, according to Radio France and information reaching the Japanese Consulate General in Geneva. The 68-year-old, a member of a group of eight Japanese climbers, fell several hundred meters from an elevation of around 3,600 meters on the French side while descending after reaching the 4,810-meter summit. The cause of his fall is unknown, but the area is known as a difficult spot for climbers. The consulate has not disclosed the man's name in line with his family's wishes. (C) The Japan Times