The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy snow alert for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region on the eve of New Year’s Day. It is observed that the mountainous areas in northern and eastern Japan have seen the largest amount of snow this season. In Nozawa, Nagano Prefecture, a famous hot spring area, and Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture, a ski area, the snow has accumulated more than 2 meters, nearly three times higher than normal.
On Sunday night (December 29), two Shinkansen trains of JR East Railway Company bound for Akita Prefecture were stuck in the snow because of heavy snow and the power transmission pipes were crushed by snow. It is reported that skiers in Niigata Prefecture were also buried in the snow and rescued.
According to reports, during the peak period of returning home, the Shinkansen to the north was unable to operate due to heavy snow, and 500 passengers were trapped in the ice and snow. Hokkaido and Niigata Prefectures, where there are many skiers, are also covered with snow, and many roads are half-pressed by snow so that the front cannot be seen.
The power outage area is between Sashimaki Station on the Tazawako Line (Semboku City, Akita Prefecture) and Jinguji Station on the Ou Line (Oyama City, Akita Prefecture). The bullet trains “Komachi 43” and “Komachi 45” running on the same section were stuck on the tracks at around 10 pm.
According to reports, there was no power in the “Komachi 43” carriage and no heating was provided. The 500 passengers in the two carriages were not evacuated until 2:40 am. Due to the large number of passengers, JR East dispatched taxis and buses from Akita Station to the scene of the incident, and the evacuation work was not completed until 8 am.
This year, Japan’s New Year’s Day holiday lasted for nine days, and there were many people returning home, and traffic was also congested. Japanese authorities issued a blizzard warning for the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions on Monday, saying that the accumulation of snow would have a major impact on traffic.
Kudo Jin, who was originally going to drive back to the countryside in Niigata Prefecture to celebrate the New Year, decided not to take the risk after hearing that the snowfall in Niigata Prefecture exceeded 2 meters. He told Lianhe Zaobao: “Four years ago, I was stuck on the highway to Niigata Prefecture due to heavy snow.” It is reported that there were more than 2,000 cars stuck in a long queue on the road at that time. The authorities sent the Self-Defense Forces to shovel snow, and it took three days to clear the traffic jam in the snow.
