Heavy snowfall across large swathes of Japan has killed 17 and injured more than 90 people and left hundreds of homes without power, disaster management officials said .
Heavy winter fronts have brought heavy snowfall to northern regions since last week, causing hundreds of vehicles to stall on highways, delaying delivery services and causing 11 deaths. Heavy snow over the Christmas weekend brought the death toll to 17 and the number of injured to 93 by Monday morning, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. sliding off rooftops.
Municipal authorities in snow-affected regions have urged residents to be careful while clearing snow and not work alone.
The Disaster Management Agency said a woman in her 70s was found dead under a thick pile of snow on her roof that suddenly hit her in Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) north of Tokyo, where snow accumulated above 80 degrees. centimeters (2.6 feet) on Saturday.
In Niigata, famous for growing rice, some manufacturers of mochi, or glutinous rice cakes that are a staple of New Year's celebrations, said there were delivery delays and their mochi may not reach customers on time.
Many parts of northeastern Japan received three times more snow than the average for the season.
Heavy snow destroyed a power pylon on Japan's northernmost main island, leaving about 20,000 homes without power on Christmas morning, although power was restored in most areas that same day, according to the Ministry of Economy and Industry.
Dozens of trains and flights were also suspended in northern Japan until Sunday, but traffic has since largely resumed, according to the transport ministry.
Tokyo: Due to heavy snow in the northern and western coastal regions of Japan, the death toll in various traffic accidents has risen to 14 people. According to international media reports, 87 people were injured in the avalanche. Rural areas in Niigata Prefecture received 20 cm to 1 meter of snow, bad weather caused a fire to break out in the area, and 2,000 consumers have been without electricity since last day. Officials have ordered people to be careful and stay at home.
The rain prompted forecasters to urge residents to be vigilant for Friday's winter blizzards. Officials continued to discourage non-essential walks until Monday as heavy snow could disrupt traffic and cause power outages.
Rural areas of Hokkaido were covered with 1.61 meters of snow. Japan Railways Sapporo Station says it will suspend trains to Hokkaido's capital Sapporo
The Tohoku and Niigata regions are reported to have received three times the seasonal average of snowfall. There were reports of layers of snow 2.2 meters high in Yamagato and 1.8 meters in Niigata.
Social media users in Kochi, the capital of Kochi Prefecture on the southern Japanese island of Shikoku, were stunned to find the streets covered in snow.
There is reason to be surprised. After all, the average daily temperature in Kochi was 8.8 degrees Celsius, and the average daily temperature was 4.2 degrees Celsius.
Heavy snowfall that lasted a couple of days reportedly left more than 18,000 people in Japan without power and heat.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says cold air is entering Japan, bringing heavy snowfall mainly to Hokkaido and areas facing the Sea of Japan on the main island of Honshu.
Forecasters say up to one meter of snow will fall in Niigata Prefecture a day before Monday morning, and up to 70 centimeters of snow will fall in the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions.
They also urge caution in strong gusts of wind, high waves and avalanches.
Bad weather can disrupt public transport and cause power outages. Drivers are asked to be careful on slippery roads
On Monday, the regions of Tohoku and Hokuriku were hit by heavy snow due to heavy winter pressure.
