AIZUWAKAMATSU, Fukushima -- A man and a woman were found collapsed at the bottom of a cliff apparently after they fell dozens of meters off a trail while climbing a mountain, police said.

Namiko Kondo, 59, a piano instructor, and Ken Sakai, 59, a self-employed man, both from Aizuwakamatsu, were found collapsed on a slope at the bottom of a cliff on Mt. Otodake (1,416 meters high) in Aizuwakamatsu by firefighters at around 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday.

The two climbers did not respond to firefighters' calls, and rescuers are trying to confirm their safety.

Officials suspect that they fell off a mountain trail and tumbled dozens of meters below as there are traces of such a slip.

According to Aizuwakamatsu Police Station, Kondo and Sakai entered Mt. Otodake early Sunday morning, but they did not return at night as scheduled.

Firefighters started looking for them after members of their families filed requests for a search on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

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