By Makiko Yamazaki for Reuters
One man has died and more a million in Japan are being advised to evacuate as a powerful typhoon is set to make landfall, bringing with it the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years.
Houses are damaged by strong wind that is considered to be tornado in Ichihara, Chiba prefecture on Oct. 12, 2019, as Typhoon Hagibis, a massive Category 5 storm, is approaching to Japan. Photo: AFP
A man in his 40s was killed in an overturned car early on Saturday (local time) in Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, where high winds were reported, according to public broadcaster NHK. Four people were injured, also in Chiba, as winds blew roofs off several houses.
A number of municipal governments issued evacuation advisories to areas particularly at risk of floods and landslides, including some in the most populous greater Tokyo region, NHK said. Typhoon Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is due to make landfall on Japan's main island of Honshu late on Saturday, a month after one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused extensive power outages.
More than 16,000 households have lost power, including 7,200 in Chiba, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago, the industry ministry said.
The Defense Ministry set up a new Twitter account to disseminate information on disaster relief efforts.
Residential area is covered with water in Kushibe Town, Mie prefecture. Photo: AFP
Stores, factories and subway systems have been shut down as a precaution, while Japanese Formula One Grand Prix organisers cancelled all practice and qualifying sessions scheduled for Saturday.
Two matches of the Rugby World Cup, including the All Blacks vs Italy match, due to be played today were also cancelled.
More than 1,600 flights have been cancelled. Narita International Airport near Tokyo stopped accepting flights from 11 am (3pm NZT) as trains connecting to cities were suspended.
Storm surges continue to hit the Pacific coast of Honshu on today and tomorrow, as are torrential rain, causing floods and landslides.
Typhoon Ida, known as the "Kanogawa Typhoon" in Japanese, killed more than 1,000 people in 1958.
- Reuters