Five days after record snowfall hit the mountain regions of eastern Japan, authorities are still struggling to clear roads and restore access to isolated communities.

In Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, 5 people have died and over 1500 are still stranded. The body of a 70-year-old woman was found buried under snow that had fallen from a roof. A man died from carbon monoxide intoxication while trapped in his car.

As of 10:30AM on Wednesday, nearly 2000 people were still stranded in western Tokyo, Saitama and Gunma prefectures.

Self Defense Force personnel and police have been dispatched to help with the snow removal. Helicopters are airlifting supplies to isolated communities.

Snowdrifts are reported to reach up to 7 meters in some parts of Okutama, in western Tokyo prefecture. In some places tunnel entrances are completely blocked by the snow.

Most local roads remain impassable due to the accumulation of snow. Where roads are cleared, there is still danger of avalanche.

Trains in the region have been inoperable. On Wednesday evening, the central Chuo Line resumed service, running between Takao in western Tokyo to Kobuchisawa in Yamanashi once per hour. Train stations are congested.

The snow removal operation is expected to continue for some time.