10 dead in heavy snow in central, northeast Japan

February 13, 2018

Tokyo- Ten people have been killed and 180 injured since Feb. 4 due to heavy snow in central and northeastern Japan, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Tuesday.

Four people died in Niigata Prefecture, one in Toyama Prefecture and five in Fukui Prefecture, all in central Japan.

A total of 52 people got seriously injured and 128 suffered minor injuries in central and northeastern Japan.

The Hijiori district in the village of Okura in Yamagata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, saw snow accumulation of 4.36 meters as of 3 p.m. Tuesday (6 a.m. GMT), the No. 1 among all current observation points across the country.

Snow accumulation reached 3.79 meters in the Sukayu district in the city of Aomori in the northeastern prefecture of Aomori and 3.38 meters in the Sumon district in the city of Uonuma in Niigata.

The snow led to cancellations of some train services by East Japan Railway Co.and West Japan Railway Co. and some flights by All Nippon Airways, as well as partial expressway closures.

Fukui has been hit by shortages of gasoline and other fuel due to snow-caused transportation difficulties. The central government is working with the prefectural government and the oil industry to deliver fuel on a priority basis to areas facing shortages, according to industry minister Hiroshige Seko.

In the 24 hours to 6 a.m. Wednesday, up to 70 centimeters of snowfall is forecast in the central region and 60 centimeters in the northeastern region. Jiji Press