Japan heavy snow kills at least 17, dozens injured

Heavy snow across Japan has killed 17 people, injured more than 90 and left hundreds of homes without power, disaster management officials said on Monday.

A powerful winter front has dumped snow in northern regions since last week, stranded hundreds of cars on highways, delayed delivery services and killed 11 people on Saturday.

Increased snowfall over the Christmas weekend brought the death toll to 17 and injuries to 93 on Monday morning, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Authority.

Many of them fell while clearing snow off their roofs, or were buried under thick snow that slid off their roofs.

In Nagai city in Yamagata prefecture, about 180 miles north of Tokyo, a woman in her 70s was found buried under thick roof snow that piled up more than 2.6 feet on Saturday, the disaster management agency said.

In Niigata, known for its rice cultivation, some makers of mochi, a staple at New Year celebrations, said there were delivery delays and their mochi might not reach customers in time.

Heavy snow destroyed a power transmission tower on Japan’s northernmost main island, leaving about 20,000 households without power on Christmas morning, though power was restored in most areas later in the day, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Dozens of trains and flights were also suspended in northern Japan as of Sunday, but most services have since resumed, according to Japan’s transport ministry.