Heavy Snowstorm in Japan Causes Commuter Chaos
- 14 years ago
Strong blizzards blasted through much of Japan on Wednesday (January 13), blocking highways, snapping electric cables and wrecking chaos with public transport for millions of people.
The snowstorm, coming from a cold front that has battered much of North Asia, struck the northwestern coast city of Niigata. Local media reported wind speeds reached more than 89 miles an hour—a category 1 hurricane.
In one part of Niigata, the strong icy winds snapped electric cables, plunging over 30-thousand households into darkness.
Snow also covered much of the southern island of Kyushu, with more than three inches of snow overnight, breaking a 20-year record.
Fukuoka city police closed most of the city's highways early Wednesday.
At bus terminals in the city, the snow stranded thousands of commuters, leaving them waiting for cancelled or delayed intercity buses with no alternative transport.
[Fukuoka bus passenger]:
"I have no options to choose now."
Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed at Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Miyazaki airports as snow covered most of the island.
Japan's Meteorological Agency is forecasting more than 30 inches of snow by Thursday evening in northern Japan and almost 6 inches in the south.
The snowstorm, coming from a cold front that has battered much of North Asia, struck the northwestern coast city of Niigata. Local media reported wind speeds reached more than 89 miles an hour—a category 1 hurricane.
In one part of Niigata, the strong icy winds snapped electric cables, plunging over 30-thousand households into darkness.
Snow also covered much of the southern island of Kyushu, with more than three inches of snow overnight, breaking a 20-year record.
Fukuoka city police closed most of the city's highways early Wednesday.
At bus terminals in the city, the snow stranded thousands of commuters, leaving them waiting for cancelled or delayed intercity buses with no alternative transport.
[Fukuoka bus passenger]:
"I have no options to choose now."
Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed at Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Miyazaki airports as snow covered most of the island.
Japan's Meteorological Agency is forecasting more than 30 inches of snow by Thursday evening in northern Japan and almost 6 inches in the south.