Vehicles stranded, trains suspended as record snowfall hits Japan

TOKYO: Record levels of snow hitting Niigata, southern Tohoku Prefecture and other areas north of Tokyo have left vehicles stranded on highways, caused power outages and disrupted transportation, the weather agency and local media reported Tuesday.

Weather officials said vehicles became stranded in heavy snow on roads in Niigata Prefecture, with local media reporting that the Self-Defence Forces were enlisted to help with the situation, reported Xinhua.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that as of 11 am (0200 GMT), the amount of snowfall had reached three times the seasonal average in some areas, with 2.24 metres recorded in one village in Yamagata Prefecture and 1.87 metres in Niigata Prefecture.

Local authorities said traffic jams on major affected highways in these regions are set to continue.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, around 800 vehicles were stranded on highways in Niigata's Kashiwazaki, with the heavy snow also causing power outages and bringing to a halt some train services.

East Japan Railway Co said it halted a number of local services starting from the first planned departures early Tuesday morning.

The weather agency said that icy conditions are expected to occur again from Thursday and alerts for strong winds, blizzards and heavy snowfall may be issued, owing to a winter pressure system mixing with an influx of cold air.

-- BERNAMA