Overview
- The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reports 46 dead and 558 injured after nearly three weeks of heavy snow and extreme cold.
- A persistent Siberian polar air mass drove exceptional accumulations across northern prefectures, with the heaviest impacts in Hokkaido, Aomori, Niigata, Fukui, Tottori and Yamagata.
- Most fatalities are linked to rooftop snow removal, structural collapses and road accidents on icy routes, with hospitals treating numerous hypothermia and fall injuries.
- Transport remains disrupted with hundreds of flight cancellations at Haneda and Narita and significant Shinkansen delays, while snow damage to power lines left tens of thousands without electricity.
- Emergency teams and the Self-Defense Forces are clearing roads and assisting isolated communities as authorities prioritize restoring access and caution residents about heightened avalanche and collapse risks during the thaw.