TOKYO: The heaviest snow in two decades struck Tokyo and other areas across Japan on Saturday, leaving three dead and nearly 500 others injured, reports said.

More than 740 flights were grounded as the weather agency issued a severe storm warning for the capital, while more than 40,000 households lost power.

As much as 8.7 inches of snow was recorded in Tokyo, topping 20 centimetres for the first time since 1994, the meteorological agency and news reports said.

Two female passengers, aged 88 and 90, died in a car accident on their way to a nursing home in Ishikawa, central Japan, NHK said. Police suspect one of the cars skidded on the icy road and caused the head-on clash.

A man was also killed in Nagano as a train smashed into his car at a railroad crossing, the broadcaster said, adding that 3,200 other accidents occurred across the nation caused by vehicles skidding in the icy conditions. Public broadcaster NHK said at least 494 people were injured in snow-related accidents across the nation.

The agency issued a heavy snow warning for the capital, the first such warning for the capital in 13 years, calling on residents not to go out unless necessary.

The agency also warned of strong winds and high waves in eastern Japan as a rapidly developing low pressure front was heading toward eastern Japan, it said. Japanese airline companies have cancelled 742 flights due to heavy snow, NHK said, adding that more cancellations are expected on Sunday.

Airports in the western cities of Hiroshima and Kagawa were temporarily closed as operators were removing snow from the runways.

TV footage showed hundreds of passengers queuing for reimbursement or a change of flights at Tokyo airport with departure boards indicating the cancellation of many flights.—AFP