Japan has reported its first fatality linked to the hugely popular Pokemon Go game.

Police in Tokushima City, in southern Japan, on Tuesday arrested Keiji Gooh after the car he was driving allegedly struck two elderly women as he was playing the game.

One of the women, aged 72, died at the scene while the other victim, 60, was seriously injured.

Gooh, a 39-year-old farmer, admitted to police that he was playing Pokemon Go while he drove, Kyodo News reported.

Authorities have issued warnings about driving and playing the game, which uses satellite locations, advanced graphics and in-phone cameras to overlay cartoon Pokemon characters on real-world backgrounds.

Players are challenged to capture the fantasy creatures, train them and then take part in battles with other fans.

The free game was launched in Japan on July 22 but the characters have been popular since they first appeared in 1996 in software for Nintendo's Game Boy console.

The National Police Agency announced this week that Pokemon Go has been a contributing factor in 79 traffic accidents in the month since it was released in the country.

Twenty-two accidents resulted in injuries and a further 57 caused damage to property. Nationwide, police have also reported 1,140 cases in which drivers were reported for violating laws on driving while distracted by playing Pokemon Go.

Japan has asked the makers of Pokemon Go to prevent the animated monsters appearing in the Fukushima disaster zone after at least one was discovered on the site.

Officials were also displeased with virtual Pokémon appearing at the Hiroshima atomic bomb memorial park.

(Telegraph)