2 dead in snow removal accidents in Japan's Hokkaido

18/1/2025 13:35

A series of accidents have occurred across Japan's Hokkaido, involving falls from rooftops during snow removal that left two people dead and one injured.



At approximately 10:20 a.m. local time Friday, a man aged 88 fell from the roof of his home in Iwamizawa City. He was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to severe injuries. Police reported that he was removing snow alone at the time.



Shortly after noon, a woman aged 70 was found collapsed near a shed in Bifuka Town and later pronounced dead. Authorities believed that she fell while clearing snow alone from the shed's roof.



In another incident in Shibetsu City, a 73-year-old part-time worker fell while removing snow from a company garage roof. He suffered a serious injury, fracturing his right shoulder.



The police stressed the importance of taking precautions, including wearing safety equipment and ensuring at least two people are present during snow removal tasks.