An American man who was buried under snow while skiing in northeastern Japan has died. He is believed to have been in a no-go area.

Police received an emergency call before noon on Tuesday. The caller said one of three people skiing together was buried at the Geto Kogen ski resort in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture.

Rescue workers found him unconscious in a no-entry area near a gondola. He was taken to a hospital, but he was confirmed dead.

The resort operator says the skier may have been caught in an avalanche. The two others were not injured.

The accident happened in a roped-off area not groomed for skiing. The operator says signboards and a PA system warn visitors not to enter the area.