2 weeks of snow and bitter cold have turned deadly across Japan with least 35 dead and hundreds injured in the extreme conditions that have caused house collapses and brought traffic to a standstill.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency of Japan attributed the deaths to snow depths reaching 6.5 feet in some areas. More than 1,500 homes in the Aomori region have lost power, most train lines have been forced to shut down and roads remain impassable.
To further complicate an already dire situation, a sudden temperature increase is expected Wednesday, Feburary 4th which could trigger rapid snowmelt and heighten the risk of avalanches in affected areas. Japanese officials have issued a blanket avalanche warning for the affected areas of the country’s northern regions and the government has deployed the Self-Defense Forces to mitigate snow dangers.
While this monumental influx of snow has created incredible conditions for skiers and snowboarders in Japan, it also increases the danger of Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) where a skier or rider falls into an area of deep loose snow and becomes immobilized. Learn more about SIS safety HERE.
