National Feb. 07, 2012 - 06:40AM JST ( 2 )

TOKYO —

Volunteers in the Hokuriku region of northern Japan took advantage of a brief lull in the snowfall on Monday to work at clearing roads and paths.

Volunteers from all over the region worked feverishly to clear some of the 236 cm of snow that had fallen in the region. The volunteers were instructed by local government officials to concentrate on high-priority thoroughfares, especially around the houses of the elderly, TV Asahi reported.

Around 50 volunteers assembled in Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture, working as fast as possible to clear snow before the next downfall. Elderly residents were pleased. “This is great. I can’t do this on my own. Now I can feel a bit more at ease for a while,” one elderly woman was quoted as saying.

Meteorologists are warning that another cold snap is due to hit Japan on Wednesday. Authorities are urging the country’s elderly to keep warm and to take great care when attempting to clear snow from rooftops.

Japan Today