Over the past two weeks, unusually heavy snowfall in Japan has claimed the lives of 30 people, government officials reported on Tuesday.
Among the deceased is a 91-year-old woman, who was found buried beneath a three-meter-high snow pile outside her home.
The hardest-hit region, Aomori, has prompted the central government to deploy military personnel to assist residents. Remote areas there still have snow accumulation of about 4.5 meters.
To address the crisis, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, directing ministers to take maximum action to prevent further snow-related accidents and fatalities.
A severe cold wave in recent weeks has brought heavy snowfall to coastal areas along the Sea of Japan, with some locations recording more than twice the usual amount.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 30 people have died from snow-related incidents between January 20 and today. In one case, 91-year-old Jin was buried under a three-meter snow pile in front of her home in Aomori. Police believe she suffocated when snow from her roof collapsed onto her. An aluminum shovel was found beside her body.
Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita told a press conference on Monday that he has requested the Japanese military’s support for emergency relief. He noted that rescue teams are struggling to clear snow from roads and homes, and dangers from falling snow and collapsing buildings remain.
