Record snowfall across Japan leaves 10 dead

Japan's Internal Affairs Ministry says 10 people have died over a seven-day period as a result of harsh winter conditions and snow-related accidents.

Six people died in Niigata prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. Local officials say four died from medical problems while shoveling snow, or during other activities. Others in Niigata died by falling from rooftops while removing snow.

Weather officials say the snowfall across wide areas of Japan has peaked, and the worst of the weather is now over.

The accumulation of snow has already surpassed the yearly average, even in areas where the snow has stopped falling.

Over one meter has fallen in Sapporo in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, the most since 2022.

About four and a half meters has accumulated in Sukayu in the Hakkoda mountain range of Aomori Prefecture. Uonuma City in Niigata Prefecture has been buried under nearly two and a half meters of snow.

A low-pressure system is predicted to intensify the snow and winds across areas from Hokkaido to the Hokuriku region on Tuesday. Some areas in the Hokuriku and Chugoku regions are likely to get rain. More heavy snow is expected along the Sea of Japan coast from northern to western Japan on Thursday and Friday, as a strong mass of cold air moves south.

With temperatures rising and rain falling in some areas, people in areas with large accumulations of snow should be on alert for avalanches, snow falling from rooftops, and accidents while removing snow.

nhk