Powered by
Sponsored by

Heavy snowfall in Japan causes 40-hour-long traffic jam

Two people were taken to the hospital because of respiratory problems, nausea

japan-traffic-jam-reuters Vehicles are stranded on the snow-covered Kanetsu expressway in Minamiuonuma in Niigata Prefecture, Japan | Reuters

Heavy snowfall in Japan caused a 15-km-long logjam. The traffic block left about 1000 stuck in the highway without water or food for 40 hours. 

Heavy snowfall in Japan caused an overnight traffic jam on Thursday, where more than 1,000 people were left stuck on the highway without food and water. The traffic jam occurred on the Kanetsu Expressway, which connects capital Tokyo to Niigata, a CNN report reads. It was caused after a car got jammed in deep snow, bringing other vehicles behind it to a standstill.

The lanes eventually cleared but the lanes on the opposite side remained congested. Relief work came in form of Self-Defence forces, who started distributed food and water to those stranded. Gasoline and diesel were also distributed.

Two of the people stuck in the jam had to be taken to the hospital because of respiratory problems and nausea. One person said that he melted snow in a plastic bottle to make drinking water for himself after he was done with the food and water that was distributed.

Central and northern regions in Japan had been hit with heavy snowfall causing some areas to lose power. Authorities are warning people to be careful of carbon monoxide poisoning while waiting in their vehicles for hours at a time. 

TAGS

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines