Military deployed as Japan snowfall leaves thousands without power, vehicles stranded
- PM Suga said the military is being deployed to help residents after 10,000 households lost electricity and 1,000 vehicles got stuck on roads
- The heavy snowfall was centred on Niigata and Gunma prefectures, which have had about 2 metres of snow over three days
Heavy snow along the Sea of Japan coast stranded around 1,100 cars on a highway Thursday and left more than 10,000 homes without electricity at one point, authorities said, prompting the Japanese military to be deployed for disaster relief.
The snow has disrupted multiple road and train services since Wednesday and is expected to continue to fall heavily through Friday in such regions, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It warned of further traffic disruptions due to the slippery roads.
The troops will be tasked with distributing food, fuel and blankets as well as confirming residents’ safety, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.
The government has set up a task force to deal with the snow, and more than 10,000 households in total have lost power in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, and Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan, among other places, Kato told a press conference.
Around 1,100 vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Kanetsu Expressway, which connects Tokyo and Niigata, according to Niigata police.