Severe Weather Cripples Daily Life in Japan

(MENAFN) Northern Japan and the nation's western coastal regions have ground to a halt under crushing snowfall that trapped thousands of commuters and travelers, media reported on Monday.

Unprecedented winter weather buried Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost Hokkaido prefecture, under record accumulation, with snow depths hitting 111 centimeters (43.7 inches).

Hokkaido Railway canceled over 500 train services on Sunday, disrupting travel for nearly 130,000 people, according to a Japanese news outlet.

The company said its train services in the Sapporo area were resumed on Monday afternoon after tracks were cleared of snow.

Nearly 7,000 travelers spent Sunday night stranded at New Chitose Airport in Sapporo after 56 flights were grounded by the blizzard conditions, Hokkaido Airports said.

The Do-O Expressway, Hokkaido's national express route, suffered partial closures due to treacherous road conditions throughout the region, compounding transportation challenges.

Japan's western coastline continued experiencing above-average snowfall, with accumulation climbing to 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) in sections of northern Aomori prefecture and exceeding one meter in the cities of Niigata, Yamagata and Sapporo as of Monday noon.

Fatal accidents mount amid clearing efforts
In western Niigata prefecture, the heavy weather has led to the death of a 56-year-old man on Sunday after he apparently fell from the roof of his house while clearing snow.

Fifteen people sustained injuries from snow removal accidents over recent days in western Fukui prefecture, while 32 others were injured in vehicle crashes in nearby Ishikawa prefecture.

Eight individuals from Aomori prefecture vanished Sunday evening after venturing into mountainous terrain but were subsequently located safe and unharmed by Monday following a search and rescue mission.

Although snowfall in northern regions is anticipated to diminish by Monday afternoon as frigid air masses migrate eastward, precipitation is forecast to resume Tuesday, elevating the threat of additional disruptions.

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