In Pictures
Japan's newest storm proves deadly
Hokkaido's record snowfall this winter could mean more problems this spring
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2013 11:11

This past weekend’s blizzard across northern Japan could be the worst they’ve seen this winter.

Hokkaido experienced winds of up to 110kph, zero visibility and a wind chill factor well into the minus digits. The winter storm that originated in northern China and continued on across Japan is just one of the many they’ve seen in the last three months.

The storm brought traffic to a standstill on the roads and stranded many. On Sunday alone, nine people were found dead in or near their vehicles.

A mother and her three children died of carbon monoxide poisoning when their vehicle’s exhaust pipe became clogged with snow. In the same town another woman was found frozen to death as it was believed that she tried to walk away from her snowed-in car.

On the tracks, Japan’s famous bullet train derailed because of the heavy snow. There were no injuries on board and passengers were safely guided off. Because of deep drifts on the rails, the train’s driver had slowed it down significantly and probably saved many lives.

In the higher regions of Hokkaido, residents are saying they have never seen so much snow in their lifetimes. Walls of snow up to 5 metres, reaching as high as power lines, are a huge concern to many because the spring thaw could cause this record snow to melt causing devastating floods.

 
KUSHIRO SHIMBUN/AFP/Getty Images
In some locations across Hokkaido snow was reported to being up to 5 metres high.


AP/AP
Unable to leave their vehicles, travellers have been stranded on the highways. Poisonous carbon monoxide from running engines have killed several families this weekend.


/AP
While heavy snow is common for Hokkaido, this winter has been unprecedented with strong storms being weekly occurrences over northern Japan.


AP/AP
A very difficult task, but when a car is empty after these severe conditions have occurred, a search for the passengers then begins. Hypothermia is being blamed on many of the deaths.


KYODO/REUTERS
This bullet train derailed on Saturday evening on the Akita Shinkansen Line because of bad weather. Luckily no one was inured.


KYODO/REUTERS
A much slowed down voyage, because of the deep snow on the tracks, saved hundreds of life.


JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images
Railway workers and investigators inspect the bullet train the morning after it derailed in Daisen, Akita prefecture. The train has had an extremely safe record since 1964.
images:
/mritems/images/2013/3/4/2013349411637843_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116162840_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116287844_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116396755_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116521198_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116646964_8.jpg;*;/mritems/images/2013/3/4/20133494116787954_8.jpg
captions:
In some locations across Hokkaido snow was reported to being up to 5 metres high.;*;Unable to leave their vehicles, travellers have been stranded on the highways. Poisonous carbon monoxide from running engines have killed several families this weekend.;*;While heavy snow is common for Hokkaido, this winter has been unprecedented with strong storms being weekly occurrences over northern Japan.;*;A very difficult task, but when a car is empty after these severe conditions have occurred, a search for the passengers then begins. Hypothermia is being blamed on many of the deaths. ;*;This bullet train derailed on Saturday evening on the Akita Shinkansen Line because of bad weather. Luckily no one was inured. ;*;A much slowed down voyage, because of the deep snow on the tracks, saved hundreds of life.;*;Railway workers and investigators inspect the bullet train the morning after it derailed in Daisen, Akita prefecture. The train has had an extremely safe record since 1964. Daylife ID:
1362384087298
Photographer:
KUSHIRO SHIMBUN;*;AP;*;;*;AP;*;KYODO;*;KYODO;*;JIJI PRESS
Image Source:
AFP/Getty Images;*;AP;*;AP;*;AP;*;REUTERS;*;REUTERS;*;AFP/Getty Images
Gallery Source:
Daylife
Daylife Raw Data:
Japan Snowhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snowen-usAl Jazeerafeedback@daylife.com10Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:01:27 GMTMon, 04 Mar 2013 09:36:58 GMTHistorical winter for Japanhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=04w6bX93Ml20P

In some locations across Hokkaido snow was reported to being up to 5 metres high.

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:35:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=04w6bX93Ml20PKUSHIRO SHIMBUNAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

In some locations across Hokkaido snow was reported to being up to 5 metres high.

Historical winter for JapanSearching for the strandedhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=03D7fdV91Rg8y

Unable to leave their vehicles, travellers have been stranded on the highways. Poisonous carbon monoxide from running engines have killed several families this weekend.

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:31:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=03D7fdV91Rg8yAPAPAP Photo

Unable to leave their vehicles, travellers have been stranded on the highways. Poisonous carbon monoxide from running engines have killed several families this weekend.

Searching for the strandedStrandedhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=00Cg50W8Cp9aF

While heavy snow is common for Hokkaido, this winter has been unprecedented with strong storms being weekly occurrences over northern Japan.

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=00Cg50W8Cp9aFAPAl Jazeera Upload Images

While heavy snow is common for Hokkaido, this winter has been unprecedented with strong storms being weekly occurrences over northern Japan.

StrandedChecking car by car for survivorshttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=06yo2fk9O01tx

A very difficult task, but when a car is empty after these severe conditions have occurred, a search for the passengers then begins. Hypothermia is being blamed on many of the deaths.

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:31:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=06yo2fk9O01txAPAPAP Photo

A very difficult task, but when a car is empty after these severe conditions have occurred, a search for the passengers then begins. Hypothermia is being blamed on many of the deaths.

Checking car by car for survivorsDerailedhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=0fbFbnxaSvdR7

This bullet train derailed on Saturday evening on the Akita Shinkansen Line because of bad weather. Luckily no one was inured.

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:01:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=0fbFbnxaSvdR7KYODOREUTERSReuters Pictures

This bullet train derailed on Saturday evening on the Akita Shinkansen Line because of bad weather. Luckily no one was inured.

DerailedDisaster avertedhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=00OyaJ8dDT07O

A much slowed down voyage, because of the deep snow on the tracks, saved hundreds of life.

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:33:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=00OyaJ8dDT07OKYODOREUTERSReuters Pictures

A much slowed down voyage, because of the deep snow on the tracks, saved hundreds of life.

Disaster avertedAn investigation beginshttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=03ebbYy4Cw98v

Railway workers and investigators inspect the bullet train the morning after it derailed in Daisen, Akita prefecture. The train has had an extremely safe record since 1964.

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:39:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Japan-Snow?image_id=03ebbYy4Cw98vJIJI PRESSAFP/Getty ImagesGetty Images

Railway workers and investigators inspect the bullet train the morning after it derailed in Daisen, Akita prefecture. The train has had an extremely safe record since 1964.

An investigation begins

Featured on Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera's exclusive publishing of a key Guantanamo prison military document lays bare the brutality of force-feeding.
Former military official says poverty and anger in indigenous communities mean conditions for an "insurgency" are ripe.
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.