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The heaviest snowfall in 100 years has hit South Korea's east coastal areas, prompting the military to dispatch soldiers to the affected regions.

The bone-chilling snow, measuring one-meter high, buried some eastern cities, stranded hundreds of motorists on the roads and damaged many buildings.

Some 12,000 soldiers have started a rescue operation in the snow-stricken regions and remote areas to dig out the homes of people trapped in the snow.

Food and aid have been delivered to isolated villages while many flights have been cancelled. Officials say schools in the snowing parts will be closed for the time being.

More blizzards are forecast for Monday, putting municipal authorities on high alert to deal with further traffic chaos and property damage.

The snowstorm came after record-low temperatures, which caused the Han River in central Seoul to ice over for the first time in 26 years.

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