Monday, emergency management officials said that heavy snowfall throughout vast regions of Japan had resulted in 17 deaths, over 90 injuries, and the loss of power to hundreds of houses.
Since last week, powerful winter fronts have poured heavy snow in northern regions, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on highways, disrupting delivery services, and caused 11 deaths as of Saturday. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more snowfall over the Christmas holiday raised the death toll to 17 and the number of injured to 93 by Monday morning. Many of them had been knocked to the ground while clearing snow from rooftops or were buried beneath snowdrifts.
Municipal administrations in the snow-affected districts asked citizens to exercise caution and avoid working alone during snow removal.
Heavy snow brought down an electric power transmission tower on Japan’s northernmost main island on Christmas morning, leaving over 20,000 homes without energy, though the economy and industry ministry said that power was restored in most regions later that day.
According to the transportation ministry, dozens of trains and flights were suspended in northern Japan until Sunday, but most services have since resumed.
»Snowfall in Japan kills 17 people and injures hundreds more«