Heavy snows have paralyzed local railways and caused power outages in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan.

East Japan Railway Company said a power line at Niigata Station broke under the weight of the snow on Monday, leading to a suspension of operations on sections of the Shinetsu, Hakushin and Echigo lines throughout the day.

The company says it will cancel parts of these lines' services until around noon on Tuesday.

The operator says it is trying to finish the repairs on Monday, but accumulated snow on the tracks is hampering the work.

The company is calling on people to check the latest information on its website and other sources, as the restart of operations depends on the snow conditions.

Meanwhile, Tohoku Electric Power Network says about 14,700 households in Niigata Prefecture were without electricity as of 5 p.m. on Monday.

In Kashiwazaki City, about 6,100 households have been affected, as well as 4,900 in Sado City, and 1,600 in Nagaoka City.

The company added that the damage to its network in Sado City is severe, and that it will be difficult to complete the recovery work during Monday in some areas. The company says it is dispatching additional workers.