At least 8 dead as snow smothers swathes of Japan
- At least 45 injuries were also reported as the snow caused traffic snarls across the country after several days of precipitation
- Air travel also heavily restricted and bullet train services disrupted, with authorities warning of more extreme weather to come
At least eight deaths were reported in Japan on Friday in the wake of heavy snowfall, according to broadcaster NHK.
At least 45 injuries were also reported as the snow caused traffic snarls across the country after several days of precipitation. The worst-affected regions were on the coast of the Sea of Japan and on Hokkaido, in northern Japan.
Regions that normally get little snow also reported heavy accumulation, such as the Pacific edge of Shikoku, the smaller of Japan’s main islands, and the prefectures of Kagoshima and Kumamoto, where multiple vehicles were reportedly stranded in kilometres of backups.
Air travel was also heavily restricted, with authorities warning of more extreme weather to come.
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Heavy snow blanketed many parts of the country, with some Western cities renewing records of snowfall due to the country being subjected to winter pressure patterns, with the weather agency warning of traffic disruptions, snowstorms and high waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said it expected the rough weather to continue through Monday, moving from the country’s north and east to the west.
Record snowfall was observed in Japan’s Western main island of Shikoku, with Kochi registering 14 centimetres and Tokushima 8cm in the six hours to 10am.
Other Western cities, including Okuizumo in Shimane Prefecture, as well as Kitahiroshima and Shobara in Hiroshima Prefecture saw more than 40cm of snowfall.
Meanwhile, Engaru in Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan, renewed its record of snowfall in December by registering over 80cm in a 24-hour period through Friday morning.
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The weather agency warned the public in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan in particular that they may be heavily affected by large amounts of traffic disruption.
The prefectural capital Kanazawa saw 20cm of snow by 8am, with some bullet train services briefly disrupted at Kanazawa Station when snow blew against the platform doors.
The weather agency said that there will be strong winter pressure patterns from Monday, with low atmospheric pressure moving eastward from the northern coast facing the Sea of Japan and southeast of Hokkaido.
It forecasts 100cm of snowfall in the Hokuriku region in central Japan in the 24 hours through 6am Saturday, with 70cm in the Tohoku, Tokai, and Chugoku regions, 60cm in the Hokkaido and Kinki regions, and 50cm in Shikoku.
