Rare snow hits Japan again, injures 240 people

A snow storm again hit much of Japan including Tokyo on Friday, injuring hundreds of people and disrupting traffic, a week after the Japanese capital saw the heaviest snowfall in decades. As of 2 p.m. (0500 GMT), at least 238 people sustained snow-related injuries, public broadcaster NHK said. About 200 flights were cancelled, including those to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport, according to the airlines. The snow also delayed Shinkansen bullet trains linking Tokyo with western Japan, while many highways across the country were also closed, the operators said. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a low pressure system in waters south of western Japan was dumping snow over the Pacific coast of eastern and western region. More than 36 centimeters has recorded in Kofu City, central Japan. Up to 50 centimeters of snow is expected to fall in some areas of central Japan, and 10 centimeters in downtown by Saturday morning, respectively, the weather agency said, urging people to take precautions. Last weekend, 27 centimeters of snow accumulated in central Tokyo, the heaviest in 45 years. The rare snow storm left 13 people dead and some 1,700 others injured, and disrupted air travel, rail service and major highways.