At least 13 people died and 249 were injured in the heavy snowfalls that blanketed large swaths along the Sea of Japan coast between Jan. 7 and Jan. 11, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Jan. 11.
Three people in their 60s through 80s died in Fukui Prefecture on Jan. 9 or 10, prefectural officials said.
Forty-seven people in the prefecture were injured mainly by tripping or falling from roofs during snow removal, the officials added. Five of them were hospitalized after becoming sick while trapped in their cars in the heavy snow.
In Niigata Prefecture, four people died during snow-removal work on Jan. 10.
About 1,000 vehicles were stranded on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture at one point during a snowstorm on Jan. 10. More than 200 vehicles were stuck in heavy snow on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway in Toyama Prefecture, while up to 250 were trapped on National Route 8 in Niigata Prefecture.
More than 1,200 vehicles were temporarily stranded in central Japan on Sunday as heavy snowfall continued across wide areas of the country, forcing some prefectures to request the Ground Self-Defense Force's help in rescue operations. About 200 vehicles were stuck near an interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture…
Motorists stranded and trains delayed as winter weather pummels Japan Sorry, but your browser needs Javascript to use this site. If you re not sure how to activate it, please refer to this site: https://www.enable-javascript.com/
People push a firetruck stranded in snow in Toyama on Saturday. | KYODO
Kyodo Jan 10, 2021
The Meteorological Agency is warning of heavy snow and traffic disruptions in areas facing the Sea of Japan through Monday, with the winter weather already having stranded more than 1,000 motorists in Toyama and Fukui prefectures over the weekend.
The two prefectures, as well as Niigata, on Sunday requested dispatches of the Self-Defense Forces to help with snow removal.
Cars stranded, trains affected as heavy snow blankets Japan January 10, 2021
People walk on a snow-covered street in Toyama, central Japan, on Saturday, after heavy snow hit the region. courtesy Kyodo
TOKYO Vehicles were stranded and train services affected on Saturday as heavy snow continued over parts of Japan, with the weather agency warning of further traffic disruption from slippery roads due to more snowfall through the weekend, Kyodo reported.
In central Japan, many cars were stuck. Around 120 vehicles were stranded on the Hokuriku Expressway in Fukui Prefecture due to an accident. About 80 cars could not move on the Noetsu Expressway in Toyama Prefecture, with a section temporarily closed, transport authorities said.