Death toll from heavy Japan snow hits 30

Unusually heavy snow in Japan has been blamed for 30 deaths in the past two weeks, officials said today (3 February), including a 91-year-old woman found under a three-metre pile outside her home.

The central government has deployed troops to help residents in Aomori, the heaviest-hit region where as much as 4.5 metres (15 feet) of snow remains on the ground in remote areas.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a special cabinet-level meeting this morning to instruct ministers to do all they can to prevent deaths and accidents.

A powerful cold air mass has resulted in heavy snow along the Sea of Japan coast in recent weeks, with some areas seeing more than double the usual volumes.

Since 20 January through Tuesday, 30 people have died as a result of the heavy snow, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Among them was Kina Jin, 91, whose body was found under a pile of snow at her home in Ajigasawa, Aomori, a local police official told AFP on a condition of anonymity.

Police believe snow from her rooftop fell on her. The cause of her death was suffocation, the official said. An aluminium shovel was found next to her body.

"As it gets warmer, the accumulated snow melts and falls. It depends on the volume (of snow) and the temperature. Under the rooftop is a dangerous place," the official told AFP.

Aomori governor Soichiro Miyashita said on Monday he had asked Japan's military to offer disaster relief.

He said he asked troops to help the region's elderly who live alone and need help clearing snow.

Walls of snow as high as 1.8 metres are on the ground of the regional capital of Aomori city, the governor said, adding that local workers clearing snow from roads and houses were overwhelmed.

"The danger of life-threatening incidents, such as fatal accidents due to falling snow from the roofs or collapsing buildings, is imminent," he said in the press conference.