THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
January 25, 2024 at 13:10 JST
NAGOYA--Record-breaking snow stalled traffic on the Meishin Expressway in Gifu Prefecture for about 19 hours until the stranded vehicles were cleared at 4 a.m. on Jan. 25.
According to Central Nippon Expressway Co., traffic came to a halt near the Sekigahara Interchange in Sekigahara around 9:10 a.m. on Jan. 24, when two trailer trucks became stuck in the snow on a westbound lane.
At one point, as many as 500 vehicles were stopped on westbound lanes over 6.6 kilometers.
On eastbound lanes, 270 vehicles became stuck in the snow over 5.5 km.
The Gifu prefectural government and the Ground Self-Defense Force helped clear snow and provided food and water to those trapped.
Vehicles stranded on westbound lanes were freed by midnight on Jan. 24 and those on eastbound lanes were rolling by 4 a.m. on Jan. 25.
A man in his 50s and boys, ages 5 and 1, reported feeling unwell and were taken to a hospital by 9 p.m. on Jan. 24, firefighters said.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, snowfall in Sekigahara reached 58 centimeters over 12 hours until 6 p.m. on Jan. 24, the highest since record-keeping began in October 1997.
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A trailer truck stuck in the snow on the Meishin Expressway (Provided by Central Nippon Expressway Co.)
