Japan has expressed serious concern over Chinese military drills involving two aircraft carriers—Shandong and Liaoning—operating near Japanese waters in the Pacific Ocean over the past few weeks.

Tokyo alleges that aircraft from the Chinese carriers flew dangerously close to Japanese surveillance planes. Satellite images show the carriers navigating close to Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where Japan has sole rights to exploit marine resources. China, however, maintains the drills are being conducted in compliance with international law.

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported on Thursday that the country recorded up to 427 cm (14 feet) of snowfall as of February 10. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that the victims, aged between 60 and 90, lost their lives while attempting to clear the snow. The deceased were residents of Fukushima, Niigata, Toyama, Nagano, and Fukui prefectures. Authorities have issued special advisories to ensure the safe recovery of victims during this extreme weather event.