Heavy snow causes traffic jams, hundreds of airline cancellations, disruption in rail service in Japan

Tokyo: Wide areas of Japan were covered with heavy snow yesterday, which caused traffic jams, hundreds of airline cancellations, a disruption in rail service, and at least one fatality. After wreaking havoc earlier this week in several Asian nations, an abnormally cold weather front and extreme low pressure systems began to bring snowfall and high winds to Japan on



Tuesday.

According to the Transport Ministry, 450 domestic flights, including those operated by Japan Airlines, were cancelled, 490 highway areas closed, and 57 countrywide train services, including a high-speed rail service suspended. After service was halted on Tuesday due to snow and strong winds in Kyoto, some 3,000 people were left stranded at two railway stations.