Deadly snowstorms claim three lives in northern Japan

At least three people have died as a result of snowstorms that struck northern and northeastern Japan last week.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, by February 10 morning, three fatalities had been reported across the Fukushima, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Additionally, 53 people were injured, some critically, due to the heavy snowstorms that began on February 4. The storms affected a total of 14 prefectures. In some Japanese cities, snow accumulation has reached between 300 to over 400 centimetres.

A recent avalanche in Fukushima Prefecture also resulted in two hotels, housing 160 guests, being cut off from the outside world. The individuals were staying at two hotels in Fukushima province. Fortunately, no one was buried under the snow. 

Although authorities had cleared landslides that affected roads in the Tsuchiyu Onsen area early in the morning, new landslides soon blocked the roads again. Since the beginning of the month, Japan has experienced record snowfall, causing widespread disruptions to daily life.

By Naila Huseynova