Heavy snowstorms batter Japan's northern and western coastal regions, death toll at 30+

Snowstorms continue to lash northern and western coastal areas of Japan, pushing the death toll to at least 30 with more than 320 injured.

Tuesday morning, snow depth in Aomori City reached 1.75 metres.

In the Sukayu hot spring district in Aomori Prefecture, snow accumulation topped 4.5 metres.

Many residents could be seen busy shovelling snow.

In Yamagata Prefecture, an 85-year-old woman was found collapsed in a drainage channel in Mogami Town on Monday afternoon with a snow shovel nearby.

She was certified dead after being taken to hospital.

In Niigata Prefecture, another man was trapped underneath heavy snowfall in a residential garage.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says starting Tuesday afternoon, snowfall is easing across much for northern and eastern Japan.

But another bout of heavy snow is expected after the weekend.