Aomori City has commenced the demolition of a vacant house in Chayamachi, which poses a risk of collapse due to heavy snowfall. The demolition is being conducted under the Emergency Execution provisions of Japan's Vacant House Special Measures Law, marking the first time such an order has been enacted in the city. The house partially collapsed on the night of February 15-16, 2023, as a result of heavy snow accumulation, scattering debris onto the road and creating additional hazards for nearby residents and traffic.

Originally built fifty years ago, the two-story wooden house is located about 2 kilometers east of Aomori Station and close to the city office in a residential area. Two days before the collapse, residents reported that the roof had begun to buckle under the weight of the snow. By February 16, the condition had deteriorated significantly, with windows warped and glass scattered around the vicinity, solidifying the city's decision to take emergency action against the property as it had been deemed a particularly vacant house since a resident reported it in October 2013.

Through numerous notifications to the owner to remove the structure, the city escalated to emergency execution after receiving no compliance. The demolition cost will amount to several hundred thousand yen, which the city plans to bill the owner. The city is grappling with severe winter conditions, having recorded over 180 cm of snowfall earlier in February, leading to multiple injuries and fatalities from snow-related incidents, further underlining the crucial need for such emergency measures against hazardous buildings during adverse weather events.