- Severe winter weather and snow have caused 27 deaths in Japan over the past two weeks.
- Niigata Prefecture has seen the highest number of fatalities, with 12 deaths reported.
- Two men were swept away while removing snow, and other deaths resulted from falls or sudden illness.

A: Did you hear about the news? It’s pretty sad.
B: No, what happened?

A: Apparently, lots of people have died because of all the snow!
B: Oh no! Seriously? Where?

A: Mostly in the north. Niigata has had the most - twelve people. Akita and Hokkaido too.
B: Wow, that's terrible. What happened to them?

A: It seems like some fell off roofs, or got sick while working.
B: That’s awful! Did the article say anything else?

A: Yeah, two men were even swept away while they were clearing snow. And almost 300 people were hurt!
B: That’s a lot of injuries too. It must be really dangerous out there right now.

A: Definitely. Let’s be careful if we’re out in the snow!
B: For sure! Stay safe!