Aomori, Feb 04 (News On Japan) - Record-breaking snowfall has blanketed the Sea of Japan coast in northern and eastern Japan, with the Self-Defense Forces continuing snow-removal operations in Aomori Prefecture on February 3rd after being dispatched for disaster relief.
Aomori City has been hit by its fourth-highest annual snowfall on record, with snow removal and hauling carried out around the clock in central districts as accumulation again approached 180 centimeters on the morning of February 3rd, forcing residents to spend consecutive days clearing snow.
The Disaster Relief Act has been applied to 21 municipalities across the prefecture, and SDF personnel began removing snow from residential rooftops on February 2nd amid growing concerns that buildings could collapse under the weight.
A local resident said that without the SDF’s assistance, the house would likely have collapsed within a day or two.
In Aomori Prefecture, three people have died in snow-removal-related accidents, with more than 100 others injured, according to local authorities.
Elsewhere, a 76-year-old woman was found buried in snow in front of her home in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, on the afternoon of February 2nd and was later confirmed dead, with police believing she was caught in falling roof snow while clearing snow after a shovel was found nearby and a wide section of roof snow had collapsed.
In Mogami, Yamagata Prefecture, an 85-year-old woman was discovered after 3 p.m. on February 2nd in a waterway alongside a snow shovel, later dying at hospital, with neighbors having seen her clearing snow around midday and police investigating the cause of the accident.
In Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, police received a report shortly after 6 a.m. on February 3rd that a nearby house had collapsed under heavy snow, and authorities found a garage adjacent to a residence had caved in, trapping a man inside.
The man was rescued around 8 a.m. but remains unconscious in critical condition, with approximately 1.75 meters of snow piled on the garage roof.
As heavy snow continues across wide areas, the government convened a ministerial meeting on the morning of February 3rd, with Prime Minister Takai calling for proactive measures to prevent further damage and urging officials to provide necessary support without hesitation.
Takai also instructed ministries to work closely with local governments to secure lifelines and transportation and to help residents return to normal daily life as quickly as possible.
Source: TBS
