TOKYO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed in an avalanche in central Japan while climbing a mountain on Monday, Kyodo News reported.

    The group of five were climbing Mt. Harinokidake in Omachi, Nagano prefecture when an avalanche occurred at around 11:30 a.m. (0230 GMT). Two women of around 50 years of age and a younger man were found dead later by local police.

    The other two climbers were safe, with one slightly injured.

    The avalanche, at 2,000 meters above sea level, was about 40 meters wide and 300 meters long, local police said.

    According to Nagano weather services, an overnight shower and ahigher-than-usual temperature might be the cause of the snowslide.Enditem