Japan Snowstorms Paralyze North, 3 Die In Avalanche

TOKYO -- An avalanche has killed three bathers at a hot spring in northern Japan, where heavy snow also paralyzed traffic and forced schools to close.

The deadly avalanche hit Wednesday in Akita.

Officials said Thursday that snowstorms have battered coastal cities along the Sea of Japan and large parts of northern Japan since late last year. Some areas have received more than twice as much snow as normal.

The snow has played a role in 56 deaths and more than 750 injuries since November. Most of those killed fell from rooftops while shoveling snow. Hundreds of trains were suspended in northern Japan. In Yamaguchi in western Japan, a truck tipped over and blocked highway traffic in the area for nearly eight hours, although the accident caused no injuries.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called a ministerial meeting Thursday to discuss relief measures. Defense troops have been dispatched to worst-hit areas including Aomori, where hundreds of people were evacuated.

(This version CORRECTS day of avalanche in paragraph 2 to Wednesday, not Thursday)

Comments

[CanadaStan]

11:04 AM on 02/03/2012

Global warming, right?

[azOutlawz44]

10:15 AM on 02/03/2012

When it snows;atleast it looks like a post card photo.

[azOutlawz44]

10:12 AM on 02/03/2012

"nothing like getting hit with a radiation Snowball.

[mu chowdhury]

09:24 AM on 02/03/2012

In new year's greetings, I wished my Japanese friends
and teachers the very best of the Dragon (this year's
symbol in Japan) year. I did not forget to mention the
calamities they faced in 2011. But as ill luck, they embraced
the year with a calamity that claimed 3 lives. May God
bless them.

[Canefighter]

09:22 AM on 02/03/2012

Am wondering how many know that it snows in the mountains in Hawaii. I did not know this till friends came back with photos and a video of them sledding there.

[mu chowdhury]

09:12 AM on 02/03/2012

On reading the story and the comment thread
I note the following things:
First, studying in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan's northern
-most island was an excellent experience in my life. Winter
is traditionally harsh and the pictures resemble those
of Sapporo, a lovely city that we fondly remember
even after 2 decades.Though cold, Niigata is warmer than
Sapporo. I'm happy that Hokkaido is exempted. In Hokkaido,
winter lasts for about 10 months with a short-lived summer.
So, I was expecting Sapporo or somehow Hokkaido's news,
being part of the north of Japan. Thanks God.
Second, a number of posts were quite irrelevant inducting
the memories of WWII. How the WWII memories help in
the climatic catastrophe, is difficult to relate. May god bless
Japan and her people!!

[cbradman007]

09:00 AM on 02/03/2012

serbia 18 ft of snow, texas record snow, alaska 18 feet of snow, europe paralyzed by snow, record snow in vegas... warmest winter on record in north east, record floods in northeast last summer, tornados in massachusedettes, texas ran out of water, australia out of water... extreme weather expected to increase in frequency and intencity. scientists warned us global climate change is here and it's not going to be suttle. lets not even get into the record earthquakes... throw normal out the window. it doesn't exsist anymore.

[azOutlawz44]

10:13 AM on 02/03/2012

Nothing the Bible has not warned us would come,Once we started denying God and accepting to "live as thou wilt" Welcome to Revelation Peace

[vampbella09]

11:01 AM on 02/03/2012

Whatever. Your diety needs attention so badly that when it doesn't get it this diety has a temper tantrum? " They aren't playing with me anymore so I'm going to trash thier planet!!!!!"

[srynmichael2]

08:23 AM on 02/03/2012

Like they care when that happens in the U.S.

[cbradman007]

09:02 AM on 02/03/2012

thats a random and untrue comment. you sound like a bitter person.

[srynmichael2]

02:52 PM on 02/03/2012

No, it is true and you are the one that sounds bitter.

[VietnamTET]

04:13 AM on 02/03/2012

....Global Warming....Global Warming....Global Warming....Global Warming....Global Warming !!!

[CanadaStan]

11:05 AM on 02/03/2012

This is the worst it's been since the last time it was this bad!
Run for your lives!

[BeachSurfer]

03:39 AM on 02/03/2012

BeachSurfer
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will you please help the people in Japan they have been suffering so long and now 3 are dead.!!

Comfort those who lost their loves ones, give these people Hope be with them Lord take their pain and suffering away!! Thank you Jesus!! Beach Surfer!!

[Desired]

03:07 AM on 02/03/2012

Better there than here. I am loving this winter so far in Connecticut. A no snow day is always a good day.

[Rob y]

02:10 AM on 02/03/2012

People should check out on youtube, Our Lady of Akita. Three messages revealed.

[BeachSurfer]

03:40 AM on 02/03/2012

BeachSurfer

Rob thank you have a blessed night!! Beach Surfer!!

[BeachSurfer]

03:50 AM on 02/03/2012

BeachSurfer

fanned
Rob I typed in Our Lady of Akita and there is a whole page. I am glad you posted it as it is scary I will start again sayng my Rosary. God Bless you Beach Surfer!!

[PashaRu]

12:37 AM on 02/03/2012

I grew up in western New York State. Lots of snow. My city looks like the photos 3, 4, or more times every winter (although I hear this year they're having a very mild winter). Now I live in Moscow, Russia. Right now it's -13°F. But I do wish the Japanese people well.

[scpinhb]

12:01 AM on 02/03/2012

The planet seems to be cooling.

[mu chowdhury]

08:12 AM on 02/03/2012

Where are our HP global warming ranters?

[bbrecht]

08:59 AM on 02/03/2012

Good for the neaderthalls among us.

[mrsentinel]

11:37 PM on 02/02/2012

Japan can't catch a break...

Hope things definitely get better for the Land Of The Rising Sun