Snowstorm in Japan

Over four meters of snow has fallen in Japan – 35 dead

At least 35 people have died and another 400 have been injured after a couple of weeks of heavy snowfall in Japan, writes Sky News. According to AFP, it has snowed over four meters in the worst-hit areas.

Several deaths have been due to people falling while clearing snow from roofs. But AFP also reports about a 91-year-old woman who was found dead outside her house under three meters of snow.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gathered the government for an emergency meeting on Tuesday where ministers were ordered to do everything they can to prevent more deaths. 

"If I hadn't gotten help, the house would have collapsed"

In Japan, the government has deployed the military to help with the clearing work after large amounts of snow fell over the country in the past two weeks, reports AFP. In some parts of the main island of Honshu, rainfall has been more than double the normal.

Television images show people walking through deep ditches in the several-meter-deep snow. Many schools are closed and public transport is at a standstill in many places.

In the city of Aomori, the snowbanks around local government buildings are so large that employees cannot get to work.

The local television channel ATV has spoken to an elderly woman who received help from soldiers to clear snow from her roof.

“If they hadn’t come, my house would have collapsed today or tomorrow,” she says.