TOKYO, Oct 13 (NNN-NHK) – As a major typhoon approached the east coast of Japan, that ravaged through Tokyo and other eastern areas, the country is at its highest alert level with most stores closed and public transportation shut down.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said, Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on the Pacific coast of central Japan on Saturday evening, bringing rainfall amounts not seen since a deadly typhoon in 1958.
As of 12:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, the typhoon was travelling north-northeast at a speed of 30 km per hour with an atmospheric pressure of 945 hecto-pascals at its centre and was packing winds of up to 234 kph, according to the agency.
A tornado formed during the course of the typhoon hit Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo on Saturday, injuring five people, according to Chiba’s prefectural government.
The tornado destroyed a house and damaged at least nine others. A man was found dead in an overturned car, though it was not immediately known if the tornado caused his vehicle to roll over.
The Tokyo metropolitan government issued evacuation advisories to residents, mainly in its western suburbs and also urged all residents to stay at home.
Most department stores and supermarkets in Tokyo were closed on Saturday, while some shops near stations and convenience stores issued notices that they will close in the afternoon and will remain shut down until 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The shinkansen bullet train service between Tokyo and Nagoya was suspended on Saturday. East Japan Railway Co. said, it had suspended its Tohoku and Hokuriku shinkansen services in the afternoon and gradually reduced train operations in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Japan Airlines has cancelled most of its Saturday flights and All Nippon Airways cancelled all domestic flights and most of its international flights.– NNN-NHK