Heavy snow continues to hit Japan

 

In Japan, snow is expected to continue falling on the coastal prefectures alongside the Sea of Japan, after its peak on Thursday.

Japan Meteorological Agency says the winter pressure pattern is abating, following weeks of severe freeze, that led to more than 56 deaths across the country as of Thursday. Up to 3 and a half meters of snow had accumulated at Okura Village in northern Yamagata.

A man removes snow around a snow-covered vehicle in Yuzawa, Niigata prefecture, north of Tokyo, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

And a similar height covered Tsunan Town in Niigata. The Agency forecasts more snow will hit mountainous areas of central and northern Japan through to Saturday. The heavy snowfall has caused disruptions to train services and cancellation of flights.