noun
victim; sufferer; person in distress
Refers to someone who has met with a disaster, accident, or is stranded, especially in mountains or at sea.
山で遭難者が出たため、救助隊が派遣された。
A rescue team was dispatched because there were victims stranded in the mountains.
遭難者の家族は無事を祈
The families of the victims are praying for their safety.
遭難 is the noun meaning 'distress' or 'disaster', while 遭難者 is the person who experiences it.
Compound of 遭難 (そうなん, 'distress, disaster') + 者 (しゃ, 'person').