National News Death toll from snow rises to 77

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The death toll from snowstorms that have hit northern and central Japan since early December rose to 77 on Jan. 12 when a 75-year-old man died after being buried in snow.

The deaths have occurred in 17 prefectures. Most died while shoveling snow and two women died after a house collapsed under the weight of snowfall on the roof.

More than 1,000 others have been injured, and some communities have been left isolated by the heavy snowfall.

Nearly 100 Ground Self-Defense Force troops Jan. 10 tried in vain to remove heavy snow that has paralyzed a key route linking two villages - Sakae, Nagano Prefecture, and Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture. About 500 people have been left stranded there without any access to food and other daily necessities.

The snow reached 330 centimeters at one location in the area, according to local officials.

Snowstorms have subsided in central Japan, but the Meteorological Agency warned of possible avalanches triggered by higher temperatures. (Kyodo, AP)

記録的な大雪で死者が77人に

12月からの大雪で、雪かき中に転落するなどして亡くなった人の数が1月12日の時点で77人に上った。

Shukan ST: Jan. 20, 2006

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