Heavy snow leads 5 people dead, more than 600 injured in Japan

Voters listen to an election campaign speech by former Japanese Prime Minister and candidate in the Tokyo gubernatorial election Morihiro Hosokawa while campaigning for the February 9 vote during a heavy snowfall at Tokyo's Ginza shopping district February 8, 2014.[Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - At least 5 people were dead, more than 600 people injured in snow-related accidents after heavy snow hit eastern Japan, local media reported on Sunday.

Saturday's snow was the heaviest in the Japanese capital in two decades, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Snow accumulation reached 27 centimeters here. While Chiba Prefecture and Yokohama also saw a record snowfall of 32cm and 16cm separately.

As of Sunday, heavy snow continued to disrupt transportation system in Tokyo and surrounding areas. It caused some train services to be canceled in the morning, including on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, and some flights at Haneda airport, Kyodo News reported.

The weather system is moving to northeastern Japan and dumping snow on the region's Pacific side, said the meteorological agency, which warned of heavy snow in Tohoku, very strong winds in the Kanto and Tohoku regions centering on coastal areas and turbulent waves in the sea.