Northern Japan hit by deadly snowfall, as warnings issued on more heavy snow

Heavy snowfall battering bluish Japan successful the past 2 weeks has been blamed successful 35 deaths nationwide truthful far, including radical suffering abrupt bosom attacks oregon slipping portion shoveling snow, authorities officials said Wednesday (February 4, 2026).

As of Wednesday (February 4, 2026), 15 prefectures person been affected, with the magnitude of snowfall piled up successful the worst deed areas estimated to person reached 2 meters (6.5 feet).

The biggest fig of snow-related fatalities, astatine 12 people, was reported successful Niigata Prefecture, a rice-growing portion successful bluish Japan, including a antheral successful his 50s who was recovered collapsed connected the extortion of his location successful Uonuma metropolis connected Jan. 21.

In Nagaoka city, a antheral successful his 70s was spotted collapsed successful beforehand of his location and rushed to the infirmary wherever helium was pronounced dead. He is believed to person fallen from the extortion portion raking snow, according to the Niigata government.

Japan's main authorities spokesperson warned that, though the upwind was getting warmer, much information could prevarication up due to the fact that snowfall would commencement melting, resulting successful landslides and slippery surfaces.

“Please bash wage adjacent attraction to your safety, wearing a helmet oregon utilizing a lifeline rope, particularly erstwhile moving connected clearing snow,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters.

Various task forces were acceptable up to respond to the dense snowfall successful Niigata and adjacent regions, which began Jan. 20. Seven snow-related deaths person been reported successful Akita Prefecture and 5 successful Yamagata Prefecture.

Injuries nationwide numbered 393, including 126 superior injuries, 42 of them successful Niigata. Fourteen homes were damaged, 3 successful Niigata and 8 successful Aomori Prefecture.

The crushed down the dense snowfall is unclear. But deaths and accidents related to dense snowfall are not uncommon successful Japan, with 68 deaths reported implicit the six wintertime months the erstwhile year, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

More dense snowfall is forecast for the coming weekend.