Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Heavy rains caused by Typhoon Hagibis flood a residential area in Ise, central Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Home » Typhoon Hagibis PHOTOS: 2 Killed as Worst Storm in 60 Years Hits Japan, Millions Advised to Evacuate

Typhoon Hagibis PHOTOS: 2 Killed as Worst Storm in 60 Years Hits Japan, Millions Advised to Evacuate

TOKYO – Two men were killed, over 60 people were injured and more than six million people were advised to evacuate Tokyo in Japan as a powerful typhoon bore down on the Japanese capital on Saturday, bringing with it the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years. (UPDATED 16h30 SA time from 1 fatality to […]

By Reuters
12-10-19 19:56
in Eish!
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Heavy rains caused by Typhoon Hagibis flood a residential area in Ise, central Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

TOKYO – Two men were killed, over 60 people were injured and more than six million people were advised to evacuate Tokyo in Japan as a powerful typhoon bore down on the Japanese capital on Saturday, bringing with it the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years. (UPDATED 16h30 SA time from 1 fatality to 2, and 30 injures to 60.)

Typhoon Hagibis Japan
An empty road leading into Shiroko, Suzuka, Japan October 12, 2019, seen in heavy rain ahead of Typhoon Hagibis. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
People walk on the street near Shinagawa Station as Typhoon Hagibis hit Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Heavy rains caused by Typhoon Hagibis flood a residential area in Ise, central Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Destroyed houses, cars and power poles, which according to local media were believed to be caused by a tornado, are seen as Typhoon Hagibis approaches the Tokyo area in Ichihara, east of Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

As all eyes are on Japan, where the Rugby World Cup is currently being held, Typhoon Hagibis is threatening to flood low-lying Tokyo as it coincides with high tide. Typhoon Hagibis, which means “speed” in the Philippine language Tagalog, made landfall on Japan’s main island of Honshu late on Saturday.

The storm, which the government warned could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958 when over a thousand people were killed, has already brought record-breaking rainfall in Kanagawa prefecture south of Tokyo with a whopping 700 mm (27.6 inches) of rain over 24 hours.

Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A woman stands with an umbrella during heavy rain, ahead of Typhoon Hagibis in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-hoon
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
People walk in the rain over a pedestrian crossing near Osaka Station as Typhoon Hagibis approaches Osaka, Japan, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A residential area is flooded in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A security official stands outside a makeshift accommodation for spectators who evacuate from Typhoon Hagibis, at Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A residential area is flooded in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the highest level of warning for some areas in Tokyo, Kanagawa and five other surrounding prefectures, warning of amounts of rain that occur only once in decades.

“We are seeing unprecedented rain,” an agency official told a news conference carried by public broadcaster NHK. “Damage from floods and landslides is likely taking place already.”

Many people in and around Tokyo were already taking shelter in temporary evacuation facilities.

TOKYO VULNERABLE TO FLOODING

Tokyo’s Haneda airport and Narita airport in Chiba both stopped flights from landing and connecting trains were suspended, forcing the cancellation of more than a thousand flights, according to Japanese media.

Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A spectator looks out from a makeshift accommodation for spectators as he evacuates from Typhoon Hagibis, at Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Destroyed houses, cars and power poles, which according to local media were believed to be caused by a tornado, are seen as Typhoon Hagibis approaches the Tokyo area in Ichihara, east of Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Destroyed houses, cars and power poles, which according to local media were believed to be caused by a tornado, are seen as Typhoon Hagibis approaches the Tokyo area in Ichihara, east of Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
People take photos during sunset near Osaka Station as skies turned purple, as typhoon ‘Hagibis’ approaches Japan, in Osaka, Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A view of closed ticket gantries for the Shinkansen bullet train service, which is suspended temporarily due to Typhoon Hagibis, at Shin Yokohama Station, Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Matthew Childs
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Roads are flooded due to heavy rains caused by Typhoon Hagibis in Shizuoka, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Kanagawa prefecture officials said they would release water from the Shiroyama dam, southwest of Tokyo, and alerted residents in areas along nearby rivers.

Heavy winds have already caused some damage, particularly in Chiba east of Tokyo, where one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses a month ago.

A man in his forties was killed in an overturned car in the prefecture early on Saturday. Another man died after a landslide destroyed two houses in a town in eastern Japan, with several still reported missing, according to NHK. Others were injured as winds blew roofs off several houses.

Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A broken umbrella lies on a street in heavy rain, ahead of Typhoon Hagibis in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-hoon
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Spectators who evacuate from Typhoon Hagibis, gather at a makeshift accommodation for spectators of Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Men watch the swollen Isuzu River due to heavy rain caused by Typhoon Hagibis in Ise, central Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo October 12, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Empty streets as people stay inside in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis in Yokohama, Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Matthew Childs
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Men who evacuate from Typhoon Hagibis, play a game at a makeshift accommodation for spectators of Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji
Typhoon Hagibis Japan
A child in a raincoat is accompanied by his father in heavy rain, ahead of Typhoon Hagibis in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-hoon

A number of municipal governments issued evacuation advisories to areas particularly at risk of floods and landslides, including some in the most populous Tokyo region.

Experts warned that Tokyo, while long conditioned to prepare for earthquakes, was vulnerable to flooding.

Tokyo, where 1.5 million people live below sea level, is prone to damage from storm surges, Nobuyuki Tsuchiya, director of the Japan Riverfront Research Center, told Reuters.

“We are heading toward high tide. If the typhoon hits Tokyo when the tide is high, that could cause storm surges and that would be the scariest scenario,” he said. “People in Tokyo have been in a false sense of security.”

More than 60,000 households have lost power, including 14,900 in Chiba, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago, the industry ministry said.

The Defence Ministry set up a new Twitter account to disseminate information on disaster relief efforts.

Stores, factories and subway systems have been shut down as a precaution, while Japanese Formula One Grand Prix organizers canceled all practice and qualifying sessions scheduled for Saturday. Makeshift accommodation has been made for spectators.

Typhoon Hagibis Japan
Spectators who evacuate from Typhoon Hagibis, gather at a makeshift accommodation for spectators of Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-ji

Two matches of the Rugby World Cup due to be played on Saturday were also historically canceled, the first time in the Rugby World Cup’s history that matches have been cancelled.

Typhoon Ida, known as the “Kanogawa Typhoon” in Japanese, killed more than 1,200 people in 1958.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Paul Tait & Shri Navaratnam)

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