By Blessing Nweke
Soldiers and swarms of snow plows battled record-breaking snowfall across Japan on Tuesday, as winter storms buried parts of the country’s north and west and pushed the death toll to at least 30.
Japan is no stranger to heavy snow and is home to some of the world’s deepest accumulations, a feature that normally draws winter sports enthusiasts from around the globe. This year, however, the intensity of the storms has disrupted daily life on an unusual scale and could dampen voter turnout in Sunday’s general elections, the first midwinter national vote in 36 years.
Troops from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces were deployed to assist local authorities in Aomori, where snow piled up to nearly seven feet, the deepest seen in the city in four decades. Municipal crews struggled to keep pace with the relentless snowfall, prompting the call for military support.
In Sapporo, the largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, about 1,000 snow plows were dispatched to clear roughly 2,300 miles of roads, according to broadcaster Nippon TV. Despite the effort, transportation remained heavily disrupted.
The scale of the snowfall forced the temporary closure of Hokkaido’s main airport last week, stranding hundreds of passengers. Train services were delayed, and several highways were shut as crews worked to clear snow and ensure safety.
Since Jan. 20, more than 100 people nationwide have suffered serious injuries in snow-related incidents, according to Japan’s disaster management agency. While the agency did not detail the causes of death, domestic media reports say many fatalities occurred after people fell from rooftops while attempting to remove heavy snow.
Authorities have urged residents, particularly the elderly, to take precautions as harsh conditions are expected to persist in the coming days.
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