At Least 35 Dead and Almost 400 Injured as 6.5 Feet of Snow Hits Japan, with Authorities Warning of Impending Avalanches
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At least 35 people have been killed and nearly 400 injured, as a huge winter storm has dumped 6.5 feet of snow onto some regions of Japan
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1,700 homes have also been left without electricity, the majority of train lines have been halted, and there are numerous road closures, the prefecture [governor] of the region of Aomori said, per the Associated Press
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Authorities are also warning of impending avalanches in some regions as temperature increases cause the snow to melt, as reported by multiple outlets
At least 35 people have died, and 393 have been injured following heavy snowfall in Japan.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, residents were warned about possible avalanches in the country’s northern regions following two weeks of snow and a sudden temperature increase, causing the snow to melt, according to the Associated Press, The Japan Times and Sky News.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed the death toll was caused by the extreme snowfall, per The Japan Times.
The snow — which reached up to around 6.5 feet in some regions — has also resulted in blocked roads, over 1,700 homes being left without electricity, and the halt of the majority of train lines, the Associated Press reported, citing the prefecture [governor] of the region of Aomori.
Philip FONG / AFP via Getty
“We anticipate some roads might get blocked off, and so we are consulting with services that can help with ambulances and fire trucks to get through to their destinations,” Aomori Gov. Soichiro Miyashita said on Wednesday, Feb. 4, per the outlet.
PEOPLE has contacted the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, but didn’t immediately receive a response.
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Philip FONG / AFP via Getty
Miyashita added that medical staff had to park their vehicles nearby and rescue people on foot due to the destinations being overwhelmed by snow. He also asked for the main roads to be cleared in the city of Aomori, adding that the closure of schools has affected thousands of children.
Many of the fatalities were from people falling while trying to clear snow away from their homes, the Associated Press reported.
Twelve of the deaths were in the Niigata region, which is located in northern Japan. A 70-year-old also reportedly died after falling from his roof in Nagaoka city, the outlet reported, citing the Niigata government.
People have also suffered sudden heart attacks, according to Sky News.
Out of the 393 people injured, 126 are reported to be serious, with 42 being sustained in Niigata, per the Associated Press. Fourteen homes were also reportedly damaged.
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