Japan has been hit by record snowfalls, leading to the tragic deaths of 28 individuals and injuries sustained by roughly 300 people. The areas most severely impacted include Niigata, Akita, and Hokkaido. Forecasters anticipate that the snowfall will continue, potentially accumulating up to 70 cm by the morning of January 31st, which might result in disruptions to transportation services.
According to TASS, drawing from official reports provided by regional authorities, the massive snow that struck Japan’s northeastern sectors has resulted in a minimum of 28 fatalities, with approximately 300 others suffering injuries. The highest casualty counts were noted in Niigata prefecture (12 deaths), Akita prefecture (8 deaths), and on the island of Hokkaido (5 deaths). Fatalities were also documented in Yamagata and Aomori prefectures.
Those deceased include individuals who fell from rooftops while undertaking snow removal, as well as people who experienced sudden health complications while working to clear roads and pathways. The official tally of those killed or injured also incorporates instances where pre-existing chronic conditions worsened, or other related factors, all attributed by local governments to the impact of the heavy snowfalls.
Intense precipitation has been recorded across several Japanese prefectures in recent days, with Niigata, Hokkaido, Akita, and Yamagata being among the most affected. Weather experts predict that the snow will persist into the next 24 hours. By January 31st morning, Niigata prefecture is expected to see a further 70 cm of snow, while Japan’s northeastern Honshu regions might receive around 50 cm.
This severe weather situation poses a risk of interrupting public transit operations. Japanese airlines are advising their passengers to closely monitor the latest updates regarding their flight statuses. For example, Japan Airlines has already canceled five scheduled flights.
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