At least 17 dead and more than 90 injured is the balance of the snowfall recorded throughout Japan, where hundreds of homes were left without power, authorities reported Monday.
The latest balance showed 14 dead and more than 50 injured after heavy snowfall in Japan in recent days, particularly in mountainous areas, from Hokkaido, in the north, to the island of Kyushu, in the south of the archipelago.
As of Saturday, 11 people had died, but new snowfall over Christmas brought the death toll to 17 and the injured to 93, according to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Many of the victims, mostly elderly people, were found buried while shoveling snow, prompting authorities to ask residents to exercise caution in these activities and not work alone.
Many parts of northeast Japan have seen three times the average level of snowfall for this season.
Heavy snow brought down a power transmission tower in Hokkaido, leaving around 20,000 homes without power on Christmas morning, though power was restored to most areas later that day, according to the Hokkaido Ministry of Economy and Industry. Japan.
Dozens of trains and flights in northern Japan were also suspended until Sunday, but most of these services have already resumed, Japan’s transport ministry said.
Source: TSF
