LOC19:01
16:01 GMT
TOKYO, Jan 14 (KUNA) -- The season's first snowfall blanketed Tokyo and its
vicinity on Monday, injuring hundreds of people, disrupting traffic, and
stranding the youth attending Coming-of-Age ceremonies.
As of 8 pm (1100 GMT), at least 400 people in the Japanese capital and
prefectures sustained snow-related injuries, according to public broadcaster
NHK.
Some 675 flights were cancelled, mainly at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, where
two of the four runways were temporarily closed due to work to remove snow,
NHK said. East Japan Railway Company suspended all services on two lines
between Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Parts of the Tokyo Metropolitan
Expressway network some expressways linking the capital and neighboring
prefectures were also closed.
Heavy snowfall in Tokyo began in the morning, and the Japan Meteorological
Agency warned that as much as 50 centimeters of snow is expected in the region
by Tuesday morning.
Japan's financial markets and most schools were closed for traditional
Coming-of-Age Day, a national holiday for people who have turned or will turn
20 before April. 2. About 1.2 million people received invitations to this
year's ceremonies across the country. (end)
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KUNA 141901 Jan 13NNNN