February 3, 2026 | 07:15 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Unusual heavy snow in Japan has led to the deaths of 30 people in the past two weeks, officials said on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. This includes a 91-year-old woman who was found buried under 3 meters of snow outside her home.
The central government has deployed troops to aid residents in Aomori, the worst-affected area, where snow as high as 4.5 meters still covers the ground in remote areas.
As reported by CNA, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a special Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning to instruct ministers to do everything they can to prevent deaths and accidents.
In the past few weeks, a powerful cold air mass has caused heavy snow along the coast of the Sea of Japan, with some areas receiving more than twice their usual snow.
From January 20 to the present day, 30 people have died from heavy snow, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Among them was 91-year-old Kina Jin, whose body was found under a pile of snow at her home in Ajigasawa, Aomori, said a local police official on the condition of anonymity.
Police believe that snow from her roof fell onto her. The cause of her death was suffocation, the official said. An aluminum shovel was found beside her body.
"As it gets warmer, the accumulated snow melts and falls. It depends on the volume (of snow) and the temperature. Under the rooftop is a dangerous place," the official said.
Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said on Monday that he had requested assistance from the Japanese military for disaster relief.
He also stated that he had asked the forces to assist the elderly living alone in the region who require help in clearing snow.
The Aomori governor said that a 1.8-meter-high snow wall covered the ground in the regional capital and added that local workers clearing snow from roads and homes were overwhelmed.
"The danger of life-threatening incidents, such as fatal accidents due to falling snow from the roofs or collapsing buildings, is imminent," he said at a press conference.
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