The government said Tuesday it will do its utmost to help restore the Sea of Japan coastal region that was hit by heavy snow last week, which caused several deaths and left some 1,500 cars stranded.

The government decided to tap its special grant tax revenue to help finance local expenses — snow removal and gas distribution — in the hardest-hit areas, including Fukui Prefecture, officials said.

The government will set up a research panel aimed at increasing the effectiveness of traffic control and snow removal to prevent major congestion, transport minister Keiichi Ishii told a news conference.