BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Heavy snowfall that has blanketed northern Japan over the past two weeks has paralyzed transportation networks, cut electricity to thousands of homes and been blamed for dozens of deaths across the country, as authorities warn that further dangers may still lie ahead.
At least 15 prefectures have been affected by the prolonged winter onslaught, with snow accumulating to depths of up to 2 meters in some of the hardest-hit areas. Meteorologists say the unusually severe conditions are being driven by a powerful mass of cold Arctic air that has stalled over the Japanese archipelago, funneling continuous snowstorms into the region.
In Aomori prefecture, one of the areas most severely impacted, more than 1,700 households were left without electricity as of Wednesday, while the majority of train services were suspended. This included high-speed bullet trains, disrupting travel and logistics and leaving many communities isolated.
Local officials said the snowfall has made roads increasingly impassable, complicating emergency response efforts. Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita told reporters that authorities were preparing for the possibility that additional routes could be blocked, prompting coordination with ambulance and fire services to ensure emergency vehicles could still reach those in need.
In some cases, rescue teams have been forced to abandon vehicles altogether. Miyashita said emergency crews unable to drive to their destinations parked nearby and continued on foot, carrying stretchers through deep snow to reach people requiring medical assistance.
The governor also expressed concern that snow removal efforts in Aomori city were lagging behind those in neighboring areas, urging local officials to prioritize clearing major roads. Schools across the city were closed as a result of the conditions, disrupting classes for thousands of students.
Nationwide, authorities have linked around 35 deaths and hundreds of injuries to the severe winter weather. Most fatalities occurred during efforts to clear snow from homes, particularly among elderly residents. Falls from rooftops and ladders while shoveling snow have been the leading cause of death, officials said.
Niigata prefecture, a major rice-producing region along the Sea of Japan coast, has reported the highest number of fatalities, with 12 snow-related deaths confirmed. Among them was a man found collapsed on the roof of his home in Uonuma city on Jan. 21. In Nagaoka city, officials said a 70-year-old resident is believed to have died after falling from a rooftop while removing snow.
Across Japan, injuries related to the storms have reached 393, including 126 classified as serious. Niigata alone accounted for 42 of those serious injuries. Property damage has also been reported, with at least 14 homes damaged nationwide, including eight in Aomori prefecture and three in Niigata.
Japan’s chief government spokesperson, Minoru Kihara, cautioned that the risks would not necessarily ease as temperatures begin to rise. While slightly warmer weather is expected in some areas, he warned that melting snow could increase the likelihood of landslides and create treacherous, slippery surfaces on roads and walkways.
Weather officials are now forecasting another round of heavy snowfall for northern Japan over the coming weekend, raising concerns that already strained infrastructure and emergency services could face renewed pressure. Authorities are urging residents to take extra care when clearing snow and to avoid unnecessary travel as communities continue to grapple with one of the harshest winter periods in recent years.
Original article
Comments