Tokyo, Dec. 31, (dpa/GNA) – One person was dead and another unaccounted for as a mass of cold air hovering over Japan brought heavy snow, powerful winds and high waves to many parts of the country on Thursday.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency forecast the cold snap, “the most powerful in several years,” will continue to blanket many parts of the country as it warned of much snow and traffic disruption.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga late on Wednesday urged the public to “refrain from non-essential and non-urgent outings” to prepare for heavy snow.
A 70-year-old man was found dead late on Wednesday as he was pinned under heavy machinery in the northern town of Iwaizumi, broadcaster NHK reported.
He was believed to have fallen into a river while operating the machine for clearing snow, NHK said, citing local police.
One person was unaccounted for and two were taken to hospital after a pileup on an icy highway involved at least nine cars in the western city of Mine, NHK reported.
Seven of the vehicles burst into flames on the Chugoku Expressway in the prefecture of Yamaguchi, the report said.
The winter storm forced two major airlines – Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways – to cancel 143 flights on Thursday following the cancellation of a total of 178 flights the previous day, according to NHK and Kyodo News.
The weather agency forecast up to 80 centimetres for Niigata prefecture and up to 70 centimetres for the Hokuriku region and western and north-eastern Japan in the 24 hours until Friday morning.
GNA