At least 28 killed in record snowfall across northern Japan, transport disrupted

Record snowfall in northeastern parts of Japan has resulted in at least 28 deaths and left roughly 300 people injured, according to local authorities cited by TASS.

The hardest-hit areas include Niigata Prefecture, where 12 fatalities were reported, Akita Prefecture with eight deaths, and the island of Hokkaido, where five people were killed. Some of the victims fell from rooftops while clearing heavy snow, while others suffered sudden health problems as they worked to remove snow from streets and sidewalks.

The official toll also covers cases of sharp declines in health, including flare-ups of chronic conditions, which local officials have linked directly to the extreme winter weather.

Weather forecasters warn that more snowfall is expected over the next few days. Niigata Prefecture could receive up to 70 centimetres of additional snow by the morning of January 31, while northeastern regions of Honshu Island may see as much as 50 centimetres.

Severe conditions are likely to disrupt public transport services. Airlines in Japan have advised travellers to regularly check flight updates, and Japan Airlines has already cancelled five departures.

Earlier, it was reported that the number of people killed by a powerful snowstorm in the United States had climbed to 51. Millions across the country are still facing harsh cold and electricity outages. Around 400,000 households, mainly in southern states, remain without power, and more than 200 million people have been affected by the extreme weather.

By Tamilla Hasanova