This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2024 shows a road damaged by earthquakes in Hakui, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
TOKYO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japan's weather agency on Sunday said that an intensifying winter pressure pattern is expected to bring high winds and heavy snow to the areas hit by the powerful earthquake that rocked central Japan.
Due to the low-pressure system with a front, very strong winds and rough seas are forecast in northern and eastern parts of Japan starting Sunday night and continuing through Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
Northern and eastern parts of Japan, mainly in the areas facing the Sea of Japan, could see heavy snow, it added.
JMA officials warned that buildings that were damaged by the quake could collapse under the weight of accumulated snow, calling on residents to be on the lookout for any structural abnormalities in their houses.
As of 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, the death toll came to 221 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa, after a series of strong quakes of up to 7.6 magnitude jolted the prefecture and its vicinity on New Year's Day, while the number of people who remained unaccounted for stood at 24, local authorities said.■
