At least 17 people in Japan have died and 93 have been injured as a result of heavy snowfall.
The numbers were from the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency on Monday morning. They rose from the 11 dead on Saturday.
Authorities warned residents to be careful when clearing snow from their homes. Many of the recent deaths occurred when people fell while clearing snow from their roofs when snow fell on them.
This included a woman in her 70s who was found under a pile of snow at her home in Nagai, about 180 miles north of Tokyo.
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Residents shovel snow during a heavy snowfall Monday, December 19, 2022, in Nagaoka, Niigata prefecture, northern Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
The snow was so heavy in the northern part of the country that it brought down an electrical power transmission tower, leaving an estimated 20,000 people without power on Christmas morning. Authorities said power was restored to most of the affected area that same day.
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Nagoya Castle is covered in snow on a winter day in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, central Japan, on December 24, 2022. (Kyodo News via AP)
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The weather also caused transport setbacks. Dozens of planes and trains saw their trips suspended on Sunday. Delivery delays could also delay shipments of mochi from Niigata, a regular part of New Year’s meals.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
