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Japan flights canceled in blizzard

December 17, 2014

Hundreds of flights have been canceled as strong winds and heavy snow buried vehicles in deep drifts in northern Japan. More snow and high winds are expected.

https://p.dw.com/p/1E61C
Japan Schnee 17.12.2014
Image: AFP/Getty Images/Jiji Press

More than 70 centimeters of snow fell in the 24 hours to midday Wednesday on parts of the northern main island of Hokkaido. Two major airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, canceled 296 international and domestic flights; some 350 trains were canceled.

"We are struggling to remove snow from the street," an official in the city of Obihiro said. "As many as 50 vehicles may be trapped in the snow."

The blizzard is expected to continue until Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Snow levels are expected to rise to 120 centimetres in some areas of the central Hokuriku region.

There have been no fatal injuries so far but two people were reported injured as a result of damage to a building and a vehicle.

Fluggäste der American Airlines aus Incheon nach der Notlandung in Tokio
A plane en route from Seoul to Dallas had to land in Tokyo after hitting severe turbulence from the storm.Image: Reuters/Kyodo

A low pressure system has caused storm surges in coastal Hokkaido, according to the JMA.

The coastal city of Nemuro, on the eastern tip of Hokkaido, has seen winds of 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour. A spokeswoman for the city said: "The city issued an evacuation advisory for 730 households, or about 1,500 people, due to the storm surges." Rescuers and coastguards have been helping people to leave by boat.

Last February, more than 20 people died in record snowfalls across Japan.

jm/jr (AFP, dpa)