Dozens dead after record snow in Japan – and officials warn warmer weather will be treacherous | Japan
Dozens of people died in Japan after record-breaking snowfall covered the country’s northern regions, while authorities warned that rising temperatures could trigger a new wave of accidents.
Officials said that 35 people have died and nearly 400 people have been injured, 126 of them seriously, in snow-related incidents in Japan since January 20. Most of the deaths were among people who fell while trying to clear snow from their roofs or around their homes.
Dangerous conditions caused by heavy snowfall also affected foreign travelers. On Wednesday, a 27-year-old Melbourne man identified by the ABC as Michael Hurst died after collapsing and falling while skiing with several other people at the ski resort where he worked in Niseko, on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.
Her death came just days after a 22-year-old Queensland woman, identified by Australian media as Brooke Day, died when her backpack got caught on a chair lift and became suspended in the air at a resort in Nagano prefecture.
Most of the incidents reported in the past two weeks have occurred in areas near the Sea of Japan that have experienced unusually heavy snowfall due to cold air masses coming from the Arctic.
This winter has brought chaos to 15 of the country’s 47 provinces (districts); Snow depth reached 2 meters in some places.
It left more than 1,700 homes without power in Aomori prefecture and caused the cancellation of regular and high-speed train services.
Local governor Soichiro Miyashita said this week that emergency vehicles were having trouble reaching people in distress, forcing stretcher-carrying emergency workers to search for them on foot.
“We anticipate that some roads may be closed, and therefore we are consulting with services that can help ambulances and fire trucks reach their destinations,” Miyashita told reporters.
12 deaths due to snow were reported in Niigata prefecture; These include a man found collapsed on the roof of his home and a 70-year-old man believed to have died after falling from his roof.
Although more snow is expected in some areas this weekend, officials urged people to be careful as the snow begins to melt.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that melting snow will increase the risk of avalanches and make surfaces slippery.
“Please pay close attention to your safety by wearing a helmet or using a lifeline, especially when working in snow removal,” Kihara told reporters.
Snow-related deaths and accidents are not uncommon in Japan. According to officials, 68 people died in six winter months last year.
