Severe blizzard lashes northern Japan
A powerful snow storm slammed northern Japan and Sea of Japan coastal regions on Friday with weather authorities warning of blizzard conditions, traffic disruption and high waves.
The storm caused the cancellation
of more than 80 flights and dozens of train services, according to Kyodo News
and the daily Hokkaido Shimbun.
About 140 schools were closed on
the northern island of Hokkaido due to the bad weather conditions, the paper
said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency
warned that a low pressure system will bring heavy snow and dangerous winds to
the north and areas on the Sea of Japan side of the country.
Up to 70 centimetres of snow is
forecast for the regions of Hokuriku and Tokai and up to 60 centimetres for the
north and the north-east in the 24 hours until Saturday morning, the agency
said.
Just 10 days ago, one person was
killed and 18 others injured in a massive pileup involving about 50 vehicles in
blizzard conditions in the north-eastern prefecture of Miyagi.
