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PHOTOS: Heavy snowfall in Japan triggers power outages, isolates communities

Reuters
Published on Dec. 18, 2020, 2:23 AM

Several communities were isolated by the system's above-average snowfall.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Heavy snowfall in central Japan and along the northern coast isolated communities and cut off power to about 10,000 households, prompting the government to call an emergency meeting on Thursday to address the fallout.

The heavy snowfall was centred on Niigata and Gunma prefectures, which saw about 2 metres (6.6 feet) of snow over three days, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was set to attend the emergency meeting with relevant ministries and agencies on Thursday afternoon, his office said.

See below for a selection of shots from the storm.

People remove snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

People remove snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

A woman removes snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

A woman removes snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

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People remove snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

People remove snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

A woman removes snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

A woman removes snow on a street in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 17, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Vehicles are stranded on the snow-covered Kanetsu expressway in Minamiuonuma in Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 18, 2020 Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN

Vehicles are stranded on the snow-covered Kanetsu expressway in Minamiuonuma in Niigata Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo December 18, 2020 Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Tom Hogue)