Tokyo, Jumada II 14, 1439, Mar 2, 2018, SPA -- One person died as a blizzard battered Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido on Friday, with weather authorities warning of the arrival of an even more severe winter storm. A man in his 20s was found dead in the city of Tomakomai after he and two others attempted to rescue a motorist whose car was stranded in heavy snow, dpa reported. The most powerful blizzard in many years would hit the same part of Hokkaido later on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Local authorities on the island urged residents to stay indoors until the most severe parts of the storm had passed. Nearly 700 schools on Hokkaido were forced to close and dozens of flights were cancelled Friday due to the weather. Overnight, some 7,500 households lost power on the island and more than 300 cars were trapped by the blizzard in the village of Shimukappu, local media reported. --SPA 14:16 LOCAL TIME 11:16 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w631136