At least 35 dead, 18 people missing in Japan as Typhoon Hagibis leaves trail of destruction behind
At least 35 people have been dead, 180 injured and 18 reported missing after Typhoon Hagibis, the most powerful storm in six decades battered Japan leaving a trail of destruction behind.
The Category 3 typhoon made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday. The central and northern parts of Japan were also ripped off before the storm heading out to sea on Sunday.
Cities and towns across Japan including in Nagano, Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures, as being reported, were inundated by flood waters after levees failed in the face of record rainfall.
This aftermath of typhoon resulted in forcing many people to abandon submerged homes. The damage is said to be worsen in the coming days as the water levels may rise along flooded rivers.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has extended his condolecense to the nation as he held a ministerial meeting on the typhoon at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday.
“I extend my condolences for all those who lost their lives and offer my sympathy to those who all those impacted by Typhoon (Hagibis)”, said Japanese PM.
According to Fire and Disaster Management Agency, more than 425,000 homes were left without electricity and a smaller number without water. The government has already issued evacuation advisories to about 800,000 people.
Some tens of thousands of troops and rescue workers were at the duty to serve stranded people.
Read More : Hagibis Typhoon wreaks havoc in Japan’s capital Tokyo
The aviation authority lifted landing restrictions at Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports but more than 800 flights were cancelled on Sunday, reports NHK, as well as some Shinkansen bullet train services to the worst-hit areas.
The Rugby World Cup match between Namibia and Canada in Kamaishi on Sunday was also cancelled.
Formula One Grand Prix organizers had also canceled all practice and qualifying sessions scheduled for Saturday but the race went ahead on Sunday.
Authorities lifted downpour alerts for the Kanto region around Tokyo, where stores reopened and many train lines resumed operations. However, they cautioned about the risk of rivers in eastern Japan overflowing and inflicting fresh damage.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chaired an emergency meeting and sent the minister in charge of disaster management to the affected areas.
Earlier, Japan’s national meteorological agency, ahead of the fierce storm, had issued strict warnings. The met department compared Hagibis with a typhoon that struck Tokyo in 1958 and killed more than 1,200 people.
