TOKYO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Record-breaking snowfall has battered the northeastern Japanese prefecture of Aomori, prompting local authorities to request assistance from the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) to remove snow from the roofs amid growing fears of life-threatening accidents and infrastructure damage.
The city of Aomori recorded some 183 cm of snow on Feb. 1, about 2.7 times the average, leading the local government to ask for help from GSDF for the first time since 2005, Kyodo News reported on Monday.
Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita told an emergency news conference on Monday that the prefecture is facing imminent life-threatening risks, citing deaths caused by falling roof snow and the possibility of buildings collapsing under the weight of accumulated snow.
Over 90 people have been injured while some have died after apparently falling from roofs during snow removal, the prefectural government said.
With the general election scheduled for Sunday, many have expressed concern that ongoing snow and poor road conditions could affect access to voting sites. ■
