Milan, 3 February (LaPresse) – Heavy snowfall has hit Japan, particularly the coastal areas of the Sea of Japan, killing at least 30 people since 20 January. The death toll is 12 in Niigata Prefecture, 6 in Akita Prefecture, 4 in Aomori Prefecture, 3 in Hokkaido, 2 in Yamagata Prefecture and 1 each in Iwate, Nagano and Shimane Prefectures. At least 324 people were injured, some seriously, in 13 prefectures, according to Japanese media reports.