TOKYO: Japan deployed the army on Thursday (Dec 17) to assist residents trapped by record snowfall that has blanketed parts of the nation, with 10,000 houses losing power within the north and west.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called an emergency Cabinet meeting and urged the general public to be cautious, as native media reported more than 1,000 vehicles have been stranded on an expressway connecting Tokyo to Niigata within the north.
Over 72 hours, a record 2.17 meters of snow fell in Minakami, Gunma prefecture, reviews mentioned, whereas Yuzawa in Niigata prefecture – well-known for snowboarding – bought a record 1.8 meters of snow on Thursday morning.
Snow also fell within the temple city of Kyoto, producing pictures of delicate pagodas and famed shrines dusted with flakes that delighted social media.
Members of Japan’s Self-Protection Forces have been delivering blankets and meals to houses suffering blackouts, local officers mentioned.
Tsuyoshi Watanabe, a Niigata disaster management official, instructed AFP he had requested for soldiers to assist around 460 automobiles stranded on a freeway.
“We try our best to rescue drivers and passengers … we’re able to proceed our operation through the night,” he mentioned.
He mentioned a dozen individuals had been injured in snow-related accidents in Niigata in the last two days.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency mentioned the storm was forecast to weaken temporarily however more snow was expected for the area over the weekend.
The chilly snap comes as Japan battles a spike in coronavirus cases, even though it has had a relatively small outbreak total and has prevented imposing strict lockdown measures.
The third wave of infections prompted Suga to urge individuals to avoid the travel and has pressured the first-ever cancellation of the Sapporo Snow Festival, whose intricate ice sculptures draw thousands every year.
