Heavy snowfall in Japan has killed 30 people over the past two weeks, officials said Tuesday, including a 91-year-old woman found under a three-meter-high pile of snow outside her home. The central government has dispatched troops to assist residents in Aomori, the hardest-hit region, where up to 4.5 meters of snow still covers the ground in remote areas. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a special cabinet-level meeting Tuesday morning to direct ministers to do everything possible to prevent deaths and accidents. A strong cold air mass has caused heavy snowfall along the coast of the Sea of Japan in recent weeks, with some areas receiving more than double the usual amount. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, 30 people have died since January 20 due to the heavy snowfall. Police believe the snow fell on her from the roof of her house, causing her death, while an official said the cause of death was suffocation. "The space under the house is a dangerous place," said Aomori Governor Shichiro Miyashita on Monday, saying he had requested the military to provide disaster relief assistance. He added that he had asked the troops to help elderly people in the area who live alone and need help with snow removal. An aluminum shovel was found next to her body. "As temperatures rise, accumulated snow can melt and collapse. This depends on the amount of snow and the temperature," the source added to Agence France-Presse.
