Japanese authorities issued urgent avalanche warnings Wednesday as rising temperatures followed two weeks of extreme snowfall that has killed at least 35 people and injured 393 others.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki warned residents to “be careful and stay mindful of falling snow and avalanches” as temperatures in Aomori reached 8 degrees Celsius.
Northern communities remain buried under approximately two meters of snow since late January, paralyzing traffic and forcing closures of schools and businesses. In Niigata, two men died this week when their homes collapsed under the weight.
The government has deployed military troops to clear snow drifts reaching up to five meters in some areas. Weather forecasters warn that cold conditions will return this weekend, bringing more snowfall.
Authorities are urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, particularly near buildings with heavy roof snow and in mountainous regions where avalanche risks remain high.