Heavy snow paralyzes life in Japan: 160 injured, 132 flights canceled

Heavy snowfall, which began yesterday, has negatively impacted life in many parts of Japan, particularly in the Kanto-Koshin and Kanto regions. At least 160 people were injured due to snow and icy conditions, including 109 in the capital Tokyo, 39 in Kanagawa Prefecture, and 12 in Saitama Prefecture.

While a total of 132 flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport yesterday and today were canceled, many intercity highways were closed to vehicle traffic as a precautionary measure.

Numerous bus services between the prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tokushima, Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, Nagano, and Yamanashi were canceled, and train services also experienced delays.

It was reported that disruptions in transportation lines have largely returned to normal after the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lifted the heavy snow warning it had issued yesterday.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The JMA had issued a heavy snow warning for various parts of the country yesterday, while Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism had called on citizens not to go out or drive unless necessary. Following the warnings, many local governments, especially in the capital Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, had gone on alert. After the snowfall intensified during the night, snow depth reached 8 centimeters in Tokyo and the neighboring Saitama Prefecture.

News Source: İHA