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Japan's meteorological agency said on January 18 that 1,200 more cases of hypothermia were recorded than in previous months following the peak of the severe cold wave on January 14. Emergency hospitalizations occurring among the elderly increased by 35% during the period.
The extreme cold has also placed growing pressure on their transport services. Many train lines and flight routes have repeatedly adjusted schedules or suspended operations, while platforms without heating amenities have become particularly unbearable. Having to wait longer in freezing conditions, or charged an additional 4,000-5,000 yen (US$27-34) for private ride-hailing services, Linh says her daily commute, which once took about 40 minutes, now often stretches to nearly two hours.
Many of her colleagues spend the coldest evening hours inside shopping malls or bathhouses, where indoor heating is reliable and atmospheres are warmer.
"I'd like to do the same," says Linh. "But they would have closed by 8 p.m., which is when I'm just leaving my late shift."
In Tokyo, 26-year-old Hoang Nam says it is the harshest winter since he moved to Japan four years ago. Previous cold snaps usually lasted about a week with temperatures around 0 to 5 degrees, but this year, daytime highs have hovered around -3 to -5 degrees, with the wind chill factor reaching about -9 degrees. Early morning temperatures have remained well below freezing, creating "ice gridlocks" that have made daily commuting treacherous.
"The freezing winds don't really ease up until noon, so I usually stay inside my apartment's heated living room until the very last minute," Nam says. "But the icy, slippery sidewalks on the way to the station still get me every time."
His experience reflects a challenge shared by millions across Japan. According to the Housing and Land Survey, only about 22% of older apartment buildings have proper thermal insulation. Health Ministry officials warned that cold-related cardiovascular issues could continue to emerge three to seven days after temperatures drop, prolonging pressure on emergency medical care.
Emergency services in Tokyo responded to some 2,800 calls, three times the usual daily average, and treated 45 people for severe frostbite within a 24-hour period ending January 16. Authorities also reported 52 slipping accidents resulting in major fractures linked to people navigating icy roads.
To escape the freezing indoor cold, many Tokyo residents have been spending time in 24-hour heated internet cafes. Others have sought refuge in hot spring resorts equipped with insulated rooms.
Ngay 18 thang 1, co quan khi tuong Nhat Ban cho biet so ca ha than nhiet duoc ghi nhan cao hon 1.200 ca so voi cac thang truoc do, tinh tu sau thoi diem dinh diem cua dot ret dam vao ngay 14 thang 1. So ca nhap vien cap cuu o nguoi cao tuoi da tang 35% trong khoang thoi gian nay.
Gia ret cung gay ap luc ngay cang lon len he thong giao thong. Nhieu tuyen tau dien va chuyen bay lien tuc phai dieu chinh lich trinh hoac tam ngung hoat dong, trong khi viec cho doi tai cac nha ga khong co he thong suoi tro nen vo cung buot gia. Do phai cho doi lau hon duoi thoi tiet bang gia hoac bi ung dung dat xe thu them khoan phi tu 4.000-5.000 yen (27-34 USD), Linh cho biet hanh trinh di lam hang ngay cua co von chi mat khoang 40 phut nay thuong keo dai toi gan hai gio dong ho.
Nha nhieu dong nghiep cua co thuong danh nhung gio bang gia nhat buoi toi trong cac trung tam thuong mai hoac nha tam cong cong — nhung noi co he thong suoi on dinh va khong khi am ap hon.
"Toi cung muon lam nhu vay," Linh chia se. "Nhung cac noi do thuong dong cua luc 8 gio toi, dung vao luc toi moi tang ca xong."
Tai Tokyo, Hoang Nam (26 tuoi) cho biet day la mua dong khac nghiet nhat ke tu khi anh chuyen den Nhat Ban bon nam truoc. Cac dot ret truoc day thuong chi keo dai khoang mot tuan voi nhiet do dao dong tu 0-5 do C, nhung nam nay, nhiet do ban ngay thuong xuyen o muc -3 den -5 do C, va chi so cam nhan nhiet thuc te kem gio lanh len toi khoang -9 do C. Nhiet do sang som van duy tri duoi muc dong bang, tao ra nhung "con duong dong bang" khien viec di chuyen tro nen nguy hiem.
"Gio lanh phai den giua trua moi thuc su giam, nen toi thuong nan lai trong phong khach co suoi am den phut cuoi cung," Nam noi. "Tuy nhien, via he dong bang tron truot luc di ra ga van la noi am anh doi voi toi."
Trai nghiem cua anh cung phan anh tinh trang chung ma hang trieu nguoi dan Nhat Ban dang phai doi mat. Theo Khao sat Nha o va Dat dai, chi khoang 22% cac toa nha chung cu cu co he thong cach nhiet dat chuan. Cac quan chuc Bo Y te canh bao rang cac ca benh tim mach lien quan den gia lanh van co the xuat hien trong vong 3 den 7 ngay sau khi nhiet do giam sau, qua do tiep tuc gay ap luc len he thong y te cap cuu. Cac dich vu khan cap tai Tokyo da tiep nhan khoang 2.800 cuoc goi — gap ba lan muc trung binh hang ngay — va cap cuu cho 45 truong hop bi bong lanh nang trong vong 24 gio tinh den ngay 16 thang 1. Gioi chuc cung ghi nhan 52 ca chan thuong do truot nga lien quan den viec nguoi dan di chuyen tren duong bang truot.
De tranh cai lanh buot gia trong nha, nhieu nguoi dan Tokyo da qua dem tai cac quan internet co suoi mo cua 24 gio, trong khi nhung nguoi khac tim den cac khu me-ghieu nghi duong me-suoi nuoc nong co phong cach nhiet.