Home / Disasters and Accidents / Missing hiker: Typhoon hampers search near Kyoto
Missing hiker: Typhoon hampers search near Kyoto
5 Jun
Summary
- Alabama student missing during a solo hike near Kyoto.
- Typhoon conditions are complicating search and rescue efforts.
- Family is refusing to leave Japan until the student is found.
Rescue teams are facing challenges in their search for missing Alabama student James "Weston" Higginbotham near Kyoto, Japan. A typhoon has intensified the difficulties for searchers scouring the foothills both from the air and on the ground with canine units.
The 20-year-old Auburn University engineering student vanished on May 29 while on vacation with his family. He had taken a train alone to an area known for its hiking trails after lunch, reportedly seeking quiet time. His family last tracked him via a phone app, but he became unresponsive to texts.
CCTV footage confirms Higginbotham leaving Yamashina train station, his last known sighting. He was last seen wearing a "Save the Bees" T-shirt and lavender pants. Despite the challenging circumstances, his mother expressed confidence in his survival skills. The family remains in Japan, determined not to return home without him.
