"Do Not Go There, Deaths During Snow Removal"... Japanese City Buried Under '183cm' of Snow, as Tall as an Adult Male

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Dispatched to Aomori for Disaster Relief
Accidents Occur, Including Death of Citizen During Snow Removal

Heavy snowfall in Aomori Prefecture, located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, Japan, has resulted in a maximum snow accumulation of 183 cm. This is the fourth highest level ever recorded, and accidents have occurred, including the death of a local man during snow removal work.

According to local broadcasters such as NHK and TBS, Soichiro Miyashita, Governor of Aomori Prefecture, requested disaster dispatch from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on February 1 (local time). The Self-Defense Force plans to begin snow removal operations in the area starting in the morning of February 2.

Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido, Japan. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On this day, Aomori City saw 183 cm of snow accumulate in just one day. Accidents continued, including the death of a citizen during snow removal work. On January 31, a man in his 50s was found dead after being buried in snow while removing snow from a roof. On the previous day, January 30, a man in his 80s also died during snow removal work.

Currently, the Self-Defense Force is focusing on assisting elderly people living alone who have difficulty clearing snow by themselves, taking charge of removing snow from rooftops and collecting information on affected households. Up to an additional 40 cm of snowfall is forecast for Aomori Prefecture by 6 p.m. on February 2.

Governor Miyashita announced that, in preparation for further heavy snowfall, all municipal elementary and middle schools in Aomori City, as well as all prefectural high schools, will be closed on this day. He also added that, under the Disaster Relief Act, local governments will conduct snow removal on the roofs of homes for vulnerable groups who are unable to clear the snow themselves.

Meanwhile, northern Japan is suffering from record-breaking heavy snowfall. In Hokkaido, on January 25, snow paralyzed railways and roads, and even suspended airport rail services. As a result, more than 7,000 passengers were stranded overnight and had to spend the night inside the airport.