Hokkaido’s Record Snowfall Paralyzes Transport, Thousands Stranded at Airport
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- Hokkaido, Japan, was hit by its heaviest January snowfall on record, shutting down transportation across the island. Thousands were stranded at New Chitose Airport and Sapporo Station as flights and trains were canceled amid blizzard conditions.
- A massive snowstorm in Hokkaido brought travel to a halt, causing flight cancellations, power outages, and widespread disruptions. The blizzard, Japan’s worst in years, stranded over 7,000 passengers and crippled logistics across East Asia.
- Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido froze under record snowfall, disrupting air and rail travel and forcing thousands to take shelter at airports and stations. No casualties were reported, but the storm highlighted the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather.
The northern island of Hokkaido was blanketed in blinding white as record-breaking snowfall in January 2026 transformed cities into frozen landscapes and brought transport systems to a complete standstill. Within hours, visibility vanished, temperatures plunged, and nature’s fury once again reminded the world of its power to halt modern life in its tracks.
What began as a winter storm swiftly intensified into a near‑apocalyptic snow event that trapped thousands of travelers at New Chitose Airport, grounded flights, and crippled Japan’s northern transport network. The relentless snow, described by meteorologists as the region’s heaviest this decade, forced the cancellation of 56 flights in a single day—triggering significant economic losses and logistical chaos.
Airline operators faced mounting financial damage, with losses potentially reaching millions of US dollars. These included ticket refunds, passenger compensation, hotel accommodations for stranded travelers, and the forfeiture of high‑value air cargo shipments. The operational burden also surged as airlines scrambled to reassign crews, de‑ice planes exposed to subzero temperatures, and resume disrupted routes once weather conditions improved.
The indirect cost was no less severe. Thousands of passengers stranded for hours or days were unable to attend business meetings, sign contracts, or fulfill critical work obligations. For airport and airline administrators, continuous runway clearance using heavy machinery and costly chemical de-icing solutions became an exhausting and expensive routine. Industry analysts warned that such disruptions could ripple across East Asia’s aviation network, undermining efficiency and logistics for weeks.
On the ground, the situation in Sapporo turned equally dire. Snowfall reached 54 centimeters in just 24 hours —a record high for January—burying streets, immobilizing vehicles, and elevating the risk of roof collapses under the immense weight of accumulated ice. Public life came to a near halt as pavements and main roads turned impassable without specialized snow equipment.
Rail services collapsed across Hokkaido as well. JR Hokkaido canceled more than 500 train trips, affecting over 130,000 passengers. In Sapporo Station, an underground tunnel remained open overnight to shelter 340 residents who lost access to their homes. Meanwhile, some 7,000 people were forced to spend the night on the floors of New Chitose Airport, enduring freezing conditions while awaiting updates on departures.
In neighboring Aomori Prefecture, an intense rescue mission unfolded when eight snowmobile riders went missing in the Hirakawa Mountains. Communication was lost amid the blizzard, sparking fears for their safety. Fortunately, the group was discovered alive at a local farm at about 9:40 a.m. on Monday, January 26, after spending hours cut off from the outside world.
Although no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, the storm served as a chilling reminder of how quickly recreation can turn into peril under extreme weather. Japan’s record-breaking January blizzard of 2026 has once again underscored the fragile boundary between humanity’s resilience and nature’s dominance.
Indonesianpost.com | Republika
