Storm Hagibis: Greatest Japan typhoon in many years makes landfall

Torrential rain and tornado-like winds are lashing huge portions of Japan, as the rustic endures what might be its worst typhoon for 60 years.

The attention of Storm Hagibis made landfall in a while prior to 19:00 native time (10:00 GMT), in Izu Peninsula, south-west of Tokyo.

It’s now shifting up the japanese coast of Japan’s major island, with wind speeds of 225km/h (140mph).

Greater than 270,00zero houses have misplaced energy, Jap outlet NHK stories.

Two persons are mentioned to have died, one a person whose automobile flipped over in prime winds in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. The second one was once washed away of their automotive, native stories mentioned.

• In photos: Storm Hagibis hits Japan

NHK mentioned 90 accidents have been reported through the early hours of Sunday native time, and 9 other folks had been lacking.

How unhealthy is the hurricane?

Greater than seven million other folks were instructed to go away their houses amid critical flood and landslide warnings, however it’s idea handiest 50,00zero are staying in shelters.

“Remarkable heavy rain has been observed in towns, cities and villages for which the emergency caution was once issued,” JMA forecaster Yasushi Kajiwara advised a press briefing.

“The likelihood is terribly prime that screw ups akin to landslides and floods have already happened. It is very important take motion that may assist save your lives.”

Japan’s Meteorological Company (JMA) has warned that part a metre of rain may fall at the Tokyo space between noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Many bullet educate products and services were halted, and several other traces at the Tokyo metro had been suspended for many of Saturday.

All flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda airport and Narita airport in Chiba were cancelled – greater than 1000 in overall.

Two Rugby International Cup video games scheduled for Saturday had been cancelled on protection grounds and declared as attracts – England-France and New Zealand-Italy. The cancellations are the primary within the event’s 32-year historical past.

4 fits scheduled for Sunday now grasp on protection inspections at their respective venues. One is a crunch recreation between Scotland and event hosts Japan, and Scotland have threatened felony motion if it does now not pass forward.

Components 1 additionally postponed Saturday’s qualifying races for the Jap Grand Prix “within the pursuits of protection for the spectators, competition, and everybody on the Suzuka Circuit”.

• Jap Grand Prix qualifying postponed

‘A blanket and a biscuit’

Native resident James Babb spoke to the BBC from an evacuation centre in Hachioji, western Tokyo. He mentioned the river close to his space was once on the point of overflowing.

“I’m with my sister-in-law, who’s disabled,” he mentioned. “Our space might flood. They’ve given us a blanket and a biscuit.”

Andrew Higgins, an English trainer who lives in Tochigi, north of Tokyo, advised the BBC he had “lived thru a couple of typhoons” all the way through seven years in Japan.

“I believe like this time Japan, in most cases, has taken this hurricane much more severely,” he mentioned. “Other folks had been out making ready remaining night time. Numerous other folks had been stocking up.”

Simplest remaining month Storm Faxai wreaked havoc on portions of Japan, harmful 30,00zero houses, maximum of that have now not but been repaired.

“I evacuated as a result of my roof was once ripped off through the opposite hurricane and rain got here in. I am so frightened about my space,” a 93-year-old guy advised NHK, from a refuge in Tateyama, Chiba.

What else do we all know concerning the hurricane?

Hagibis manner “velocity” within the Philippine language Tagalog, and it might be the most powerful typhoon the rustic has confronted since Storm Vera in 1959.

Vera hit Japan with winds of 306km/h (190mph) and left greater than five,00zero other folks useless or lacking.

• Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones: What is the distinction?

By means of Saturday afternoon native time, photos and images confirmed a number of rivers had breached their banks. They come with the Tamagawa, which flows thru residential spaces of Tokyo.

“There have been portions the place the financial institution was once now not totally constructed. We have been coping with it through sandbagging, however water began overflowing,” land ministry legit Shuya Nakamura advised the AFP information company.

Many locals stocked up on provisions prior to the hurricane’s arrival at the government’ recommendation, leaving supermarkets with empty cabinets.

Japan weathers about 20 typhoons a 12 months, however Tokyo is never hit in this scale.