Tokyo, February 3, 2026 — The Europe Today: Unusually heavy snowfall across parts of Japan has been blamed for 30 deaths over the past two weeks, officials said on Tuesday, as authorities intensified emergency response measures to prevent further casualties.
Among the victims was a 91-year-old woman who was found buried beneath a three-metre-high pile of snow outside her home, according to media reports. The incident highlighted the growing dangers posed by accumulated snow in residential areas, particularly for elderly residents living alone.
The central government has deployed Self-Defense Forces troops to assist residents in Aomori Prefecture, the region hardest hit by the severe weather. In some remote areas of the prefecture, snow accumulation has reached as much as 4.5 metres (15 feet), overwhelming local snow-clearing capacity.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened a special cabinet-level meeting on Tuesday morning, instructing ministers to take all possible measures to prevent further deaths and accidents linked to the extreme weather conditions.
A powerful mass of cold air has brought persistent and heavy snowfall along the Sea of Japan coast in recent weeks, with some areas recording more than double their average snowfall for this time of year.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 30 people have died as a result of heavy snow between January 20 and Tuesday.
One of the victims was identified as 91-year-old Kina Jin, whose body was discovered beneath a pile of snow at her home in Ajigasawa, Aomori. A local police official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that snow accumulated on her rooftop is believed to have fallen on her, causing suffocation. An aluminium shovel was found next to her body.
“As temperatures rise, accumulated snow melts and falls. It depends on the volume of snow and the temperature. Areas directly under rooftops are dangerous,” the official said.
Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said on Monday that he had requested disaster relief assistance from Japan’s military to support elderly residents who require help clearing snow. He warned that snow walls as high as 1.8 metres remain in many areas, while local workers responsible for clearing roads and homes are overwhelmed.
“The danger of life-threatening incidents, such as fatal accidents caused by falling snow from rooftops or collapsing buildings, is imminent,” Miyashita said at a press conference.
