{"id":33810,"date":"2014-02-18T18:51:27","date_gmt":"2014-02-18T22:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/?p=33810"},"modified":"2014-02-18T18:51:27","modified_gmt":"2014-02-18T22:51:27","slug":"%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91theres-snow-in-my-kitchen-heaviest-snowfall-on-record-brings-yamanashi-prefecture-to-its-knees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jetwit.com\/wordpress\/2014\/02\/18\/%e3%80%90rocketnews24%e3%80%91theres-snow-in-my-kitchen-heaviest-snowfall-on-record-brings-yamanashi-prefecture-to-its-knees\/","title":{"rendered":"\u3010RocketNews24\u3011There\u2019s snow in my kitchen! Heaviest snowfall on record brings Yamanashi Prefecture to its knees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted by\u00a0Michelle Lynn Dinh<\/a>\u00a0(Shimane<\/a>-ken,\u00a0Chibu-mura,\u00a0<\/strong>2010\u201313),<\/strong>\u00a0editor and writer for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>The following article was written by\u00a0Cara Clegg<\/a>, a writer and translator for\u00a0RocketNews24<\/a>,\u00a0a Japan-based site dedicated to bringing fun and quirky news from Asia to English speaking audiences.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already seen Hokkaido residents\u00a0putting a damper on<\/a>\u00a0the fuss Tokyo-ites are making over a bit of snow, but Yamanashi Prefecture genuinely might be able to give them a run for their money. Huge amounts of the white stuff has been causing problems across the prefecture, but has been comparatively underreported compared to\u00a0events around the capital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Residents have been taking to Twitter to share these shocking images that aren\u2019t making it onto the news. Check out these rather epic photos.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Kant\u014d-K\u014dshin\u00a0region has been suffering from severe snowy weather for two weeks now, and since the 14th areas in Yamanashi Prefecture have seen over\u00a0one metre of snowfall<\/strong>. Kofu and\u00a0\u00a0Fujikawaguchiko have recorded their largest amounts since records began at 114 cm and 143 cm respectively. If you\u2019re having trouble putting that in perspective,\u00a0that would probably reach up to the average person\u2019s shoulders<\/strong>(for me it\u2019s around nose-height, but I\u2019m kind of on the short side).<\/p>\n

Yamanashi is not prepared for snow, and the unprecedented amount\u00a0has left many areas completely cut off, with people unable to leave their houses. For many people, \u2018snowed in\u2019 in Yamanashi Prefecture right now doesn\u2019t mean \u2018unable to get to work\u2019, it means\u00a0\u2018being physically unable to open the door\u2019<\/strong>. Or in this poor soul\u2019s case, cook breakfast\u2026<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

On the 15th, the JR Ch\u016b\u014d, Minobu and Fujikyuko train lines were all at a standstill for the whole day due to snow and downed overhead wires. Train carriages had been abandoned at stations along the lines as they became unable to travel any further, snow piling up almost as high as the platforms themselves.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

Many roads, including both lanes on the major freeways linking the prefecture to the rest of the country (Chuo Expressway, Ch\u016bbu-\u014cdan Expressway, Higashifuji-goko Road), have been closed.<\/p>\n

The map below shows the closures that have been announced. There\u2019s no getting in or out of Yamanashi\u2026<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

\u2026And you can see why.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

There is particular worry about slow responses to people trapped on the roads, especially on\u00a0Route 30 and Route 139 where there are many people stuck in their cars lacking food and gas. With no indication of when the roads will be open again, over 1,000 cars have been abandoned.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

The extent of the damage caused by the snow probably won\u2019t be clear until it all melts, but pictures are already emerging such these pictures of garages in two different places that have collapsed under the weight of the drift.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

To add to the almost apocalyptic feeling, supermarkets and convenience stores have been cleared out as people stock up on food and water for the coming days.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

All onigiri, cup noodles, and snacks are sold out in this Lawson convenienve store at \u014ctsuki junction.<\/p>\n

\"There\u2019s<\/p>\n

Thanks to the residents of Yamanashi Prefecture for sharing their experiences on Twitter \u2013 we hope everyone keeps warm and stays safe.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0Naver Matome<\/a><\/em>
\nImages:\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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