As of 11:00 a.m., intermittent traffic jams and stranded traffic continue on national highways that pass through Nagaoka City and Kashiwazaki City due to the heavy snow in Niigata Prefecture.
According to the prefecture, the Ground Self-Defense Force started its activities in Kashiwazaki City in response to the prefecture's disaster relief request.
What do you do if you get stuck?
5 Actions I Want You to Take
According to the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as of 11:00 a.m., heavy snow continues to cause heavy snowfall on National Route 17, which connects with National Route 8 through the city.
[Live video] Road conditions in Niigata Prefecture (Video provided by NCT)
▽The uphill section is approximately 20 kilometers from the Sakaikita intersection on National Route 8 in Mitsuke City to the Katada Interchange on National Route 17 in Nagaoka City. It is about 15 km section to the Ushigashima intersection.
According to Nagaoka City, some cars are starting to move, but the staff dispatched to the scene are distributing water and food to the drivers of the cars that can not move, and there are people who have fallen ill so far. It means that the information is not included.
We have finished distributing relief supplies, and we will consider additional support depending on the situation in the future.
The Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has closed the area around the site from 6:00 am to focus on snow removal work and is hurrying to grasp the situation.
On the other hand, according to the Nagaoka National Highway Office of the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau, in Kashiwazaki City, intermittent traffic jams and stalls continue in a section of about 20 kilometers between the Nagasaki Nitta intersection in Kashiwazaki City and Shimizu, Yoneyama Town.
Click here for the latest road information → [Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau Road Information System]
* Leaving the NHK site
According to the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau, the number has decreased to more than 300 as of 4:00 a.m., but the exact situation is unknown.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, there is no prospect of resolving any of the sites.
Niigata Prefecture requested the Ground Self-Defense Force to dispatch disaster victims after 5:00 am on the 20th, saying that it was necessary to eliminate traffic congestion and ensure the safety of drivers.
According to the prefectural government, the unit will depart its garrison in Joetsu City at 7:00 am, begin operations in Kashiwazaki City in the morning, and is expected to begin operations in Nagaoka City and Ojiya City in the afternoon.
[Around 9:30] Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito instructs to strengthen the snow removal system
In response to heavy snowfall in Niigata Prefecture and the Tohoku region, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism held a meeting of the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters, and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito announced a snow removal system to alleviate the ongoing traffic congestion and stranded people in Niigata Prefecture. instructed to strengthen
At the meeting, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Saito said, "We are providing food and refueling, etc., but we ask that you cooperate with local governments to provide accurate information and provide necessary support activities." I instructed to thoroughly ensure the safety of the missing driver.
On top of that, Minister Saito said that there is a risk of heavy snowfall again in the future, mainly on the Sea of Japan side. I asked.
According to the summary of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, due to the heavy snow, highways in Niigata Prefecture are closed to traffic in a total of 15 sections of 4 routes as of 7:30 am on the 20th.
[5:30 on the 20th] "Stuck in the snow on the road"
This is an image taken on National Route 17 in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture around 5:30 am on the 20th.
You can see how the road is covered with snow and the car is stuck.
A woman in her 50s who took the picture said, "I entered National Route 17 at around 5:30 pm yesterday afternoon to go home from work, but I was in a state of going several hundred meters in traffic and stopping again. I don't know when it will be resolved. Instead, I encouraged each other with text messages with my colleagues nearby, and spent time turning off the heating frequently to reduce gasoline usage. I'm worried because my colleague, who has a home in Tokyo, is stuck in traffic on Route 17 even after 7:00 am."
[18:00 on the 19th] "The line of cars does not move at all"
According to a man in his 40s who was caught in a traffic jam on National Route 8 in Kotobuki-cho, Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture due to heavy snow, he left his home in Nagaoka City at 6 am on the 19th and was about to go to work at 9 am. He said that he was heading to his place of work in Joetsu City, but the car stopped moving in Kashiwazaki City on the way.
Around noon, when the car was parked, a photo was taken showing drivers clearing snow around the car.
After that, even at 6:00 pm, the line of cars did not move at all, and they turned on the heater and waited.
Furthermore, in the two hours until 8:00 p.m., only about three cars were moving.
The man said, "I've seen the forecast and prepared drinking water and warm clothes, but I didn't think it would snow this much. I want you to take measures such as snow removal as soon as possible." .
[13:30] "Prepared to sleep in the car without being able to move"
Also, according to another man in his 40s, the line of cars almost stopped moving from around 1:30 pm on the 19th, moved about 1 km by around 3:00 pm, but from around 4:00 pm it moved completely. It means it's gone.
The video taken by the man after getting out of the car just after 7:00 pm shows many cars stuck in a snow-covered road and not moving at all.
The man said, "I'm completely stuck. I'm afraid of economy class syndrome in the car, so I sometimes go out and bend over. I always have a blanket, food, and a shovel in the car in case of heavy snow. , I will save my physical strength by staying in the car."