More than 100 shelter overnight in Japan shrine due to heavy snow

BBC :

More than 100 people have had to shelter in a shrine on a mountain top in Japan after heavy snowfall cut off access by road.

Around 130 people were forced to spend the night in the halls and lobbies of the Mitsumine Shrine in the Saitama prefecture on Friday after the roads around it were closed due to safety concerns, public broadcaster NHK reports.

The local authority confirmed the occupants of around 50 cars had stayed in the shrine building, and said no one had fallen ill.

Japan is experiencing heavy snowfall at present, with up to 40cm forecast to fall in some parts on Saturday.

Up to 80cm of snow has fallen in some parts of the country in the past 72 hours, data from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows, with more predicted to fall as a cold front persists.

Several accidents around the Mitsumine Shrine including cars slipping had prompted the road closure, NHK reported, citing local police.