AKITA, Japan  — Three people are dead after being buried by an avalanche at a hot spring resort in Akita Prefecture on Wednesday, according to a report on Japan Today.

The victims were bathing in a hot spring protected by a tent near the hotel at the Tamagawa resort in the mountains, Japan Today said. The avalanche, which occurred around 5 p.m., buried the tent, which was near a slope. Rescuers found the three victims --  two women and a man ages 59, 63 and 65 --- underneath nearly five feet of snow just before 7 p.m.

All were unconscious and taken to hospital, according to Japan Today's report. Officials said they died shortly afterward.