Khaberni - Heavy snowfall in Japan led to the death of 30 people over the past two weeks, according to officials on Tuesday, including a 91-year-old woman found under a three-meter-high pile of snow outside her home.
The central government has deployed forces to assist residents in Omori, the most affected area where up to 4.5 meters of snow still covers the ground in remote areas.
Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi held a special cabinet-level meeting on Tuesday morning to instruct 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 amounts.
The Disaster Management Agency reported 30 deaths from January 20 to Tuesday due to heavy snow.
Among the victims was Kina Jin, a 91-year-old woman whose body was found under a pile of snow at her home in Ajigasawa in Omori, according to a local police official.
The police believe that the snow fell on her from the roof of her house, causing her death, while the official said the cause of death was suffocation.
The source added, "As temperatures rise, accumulated snow melts and falls. This depends on the amount of snow and the temperature. The area under the roof of the house is a dangerous place."
On Monday, the governor of Omori Prefecture, Suichiro Miyashita, said that he has requested military aid for disaster relief.
He added that he has asked the forces to help the elderly in the area who live alone and need help with snow removal.
