Severe cold grips Japan’s quake-hit zone | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Snow and rain continue to fall in parts of Japan that were struck by the devastating earthquake on New Year’s Day.
A winter pressure pattern has brought 10 centimeters of snow to hard-hit Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
In neighboring Wajima City, the mercury is expected to drop to minus three degrees Celsius, and minus one degree in the prefectural capital Kanazawa City on Sunday morning.
Increasing numbers of people in quake-affected areas are falling ill after prolonged stays in shelters.
The number of deaths stemming from disaster-related causes is also mounting.
Authorities are calling on people to dress warmly and regularly move their bodies, and to keep an eye on others who may not be feeling well.
Meanwhile, seismic activity persists in Ishikawa’s Noto region and surrounding areas, with occasional strong jolts.
Since the initial quake on New Year’s Day, tremors with an intensity of 1 or greater on Japan’s scale of zero to 7 have been recorded 1,368 times as of 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says people can expect strong tremors with an intensity of 5 or higher for about another month.
The winter pressure pattern will strengthen with the passing of a low-pressure system accompanied by a front. It is expected to bring strong winds, snow and high waves in northern and eastern Japan from Sunday evening through Tuesday.
Winds of up to 72 kilometers per hour are forecast in the quake-hit Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture, with gusts over 108 kilometers per hour on Sunday.
A cold air mass is expected to move in over the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture from Monday through Tuesday, bringing heavy snow to areas on the Sea of Japan coast.
Twenty to 40 centimeters of snow is expected in the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture during the 24 hours until Monday evening, and more after that.
People are being urged to exercise caution as the falling snow will add weight to quake-damaged buildings and may cause them to collapse.
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