TOKYO — According to emergency management experts, heavy snowfall in wide parts of Japan has caused 17 fatalities, more than 90 injuries, and the loss of electricity in hundreds of houses.
Since last week, strong winter fronts have dropped a lot of snow in northern areas, stranding hundreds of cars on the roads, holding up deliveries, and killing 11 people by Saturday. By Monday morning, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that 17 people had died and 93 people had been wounded as a result of more snowfall over the Christmas holiday. Many of them were buried behind high mounds of snow that was sliding from rooftops or had fallen while clearing snow off the roofs.
Municipal administrations in the snow-covered areas asked locals to exercise caution and avoid working alone when clearing snow.
In Yamagata prefecture's Nagai City, around 300 kilometers (180 miles) north of Tokyo, where snow piled up higher than 80 centimeters (2.6 feet), a lady in her 70s was discovered dead trapped in a heavy pile of rooftop snow that unexpectedly fell on her, according to the disaster management agency.
Some manufacturers of mochi, or sticky rice cakes, warned there have been transportation delays and their mochi may not reach their clients in time in Niigata, which is well-known for its rice cultivation. Mochi is a mainstay for New Year's celebration dinners.
Three times as much snow fell as usual this season in several areas of northeastern Japan.
According to the commerce and industry ministry, a transmission tower for electrical power was destroyed by heavy snow on Japan's northernmost major island, cutting off energy to nearly 20,000 houses on Christmas morning. However, later that day, most districts had their power restored.
Through Sunday, dozens of trains and aircraft were also canceled in northern Japan; however, the transportation ministry reports that most services have already been restored.