Heavy snow blankets eastern, northeastern Japan
At least 169 people were injured in the Kanto area, which includes Tokyo, after heavy snow hit eastern and northern Japan early yesterday.
In Tokyo alone, over 40 people were taken to hospitals.
Japanese broadcaster NHK also reported that some 8,400 households suffered power blackout due to the snow.
The snow, which was caused by a rapidly developing low pressure system, also disrupted traffic and trapped early commuters in the regions with some parts of expressway being closed, flights cancelled and Shinkansen bullet train services were suspended. Many commuters were forced to line up at rail stations in windy conditions in Tokyo as entry to stations was restricted due to overcrowding.
Local airlines said some 200 domestic flights were cancelled. The affected were mostly from and to Tokyo’s Haneda airport. A small airport in Tokyo’s Chofu city was closed.
The weather agency also issued icy road, gust and high wave warnings to the eastern and northern Japan.
About 32cm snow was measured at Chichibu city in Saitama prefecture and 31cm snow was observed in Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The weather agency forecasted that up to 80cm of snow would fall in the Tohoku region and 60cm in Hokkaido, Hokuriku and Tokai areas by 6am this morning.
Additional reporting by Kyodo
