Rare Tokyo Snowfall Click Image to Enlarge  (JPG) (2,985,782 bytes) ( 3,720 x 3,371 )

A rare snowfall in Tokyo left nearly 10,000 passengers stranded overnight at Narita airport after about 50 international flights were cancelled. The season's first snowfall in the greater Tokyo region measured 3.5 inches in the center of the capital the heaviest accumulation in eight years, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. At least 325 people have suffered broken bones and other minor injuries in Tokyo and nearby prefectures after slipping in the rare snow by midday Sunday. Coastal regions have experienced Japan's deadliest winter in more than two decades, with at least 102 deaths recorded by Tuesday, with many of the victims crushed by snow or falling from buildings while clearing snow from roofs. The simulated natural color ASTER image was acquired on January 25, 2006, covers an area of 50.6 x 55.8 km, and is centered near 35.7 degrees north latitude, 139.9 degrees east longitude.