Snow Thickens In Hokkaido, Some Transportation Paralyzes

JAKARTA - More than 230 flights connecting Hokkaido to other parts of Japan were canceled after the region was hit by heavy snow again.

Cancellations at New Chitose airport, the region's main air gateway, are equivalent to 60 percent of flights arriving or departing at the airport in a day, according to its operator.

The runway was closed for about three hours after noon to remove snow, causing three flights from Narita airport near Tokyo to reverse direction, according to flight operators Jetstar Japan Co and Peach Aviation Ltd.

About 160 trains, including the express service linking Sapporo with New Chitose airport, were also cancelled.

In western Japan, 25 people were forced to spend the night on a train because of a fallen tree left over from the previous day, said West Japan Railway Co.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the cold weather is expected to ease gradually on Saturday evening, but heavy snowfall is expected to continue in some areas in northern to eastern Japan through Sunday.