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Tornado kills nine in north Japan Deadly tornado hits Japanese town
(about 1 hour later)
At least nine people have been killed and more than 10 injured when a tornado swept through the town of Saroma in northern Japan. At least nine people have been killed and more than 15 injured when a tornado swept through a town in northern Japan.
Officials said several other people were still missing in the area, on the island of Hokkaido. Officials said two other people were still missing in the town of Saroma, on the island of Hokkaido.
Reporters at the scene say most of the deaths were caused by the collapse of temporary shelters at a building site. Most of the deaths were caused by the collapse of temporary accommodation at a tunnel construction site.
Some people are still said to be trapped in the wreckage.
Fire and ambulance crews are at the site, but a spokesman for the local fire department said rescue efforts were being hampered by heavy rain.Fire and ambulance crews are at the site, but a spokesman for the local fire department said rescue efforts were being hampered by heavy rain.
The tornado hit around lunchtime, sweeping through a tunnel construction site and other areas, leaving a number of workers dead and injured. Police said workers were buried under prefabricated buildings that had collapsed at the site, after the tornado hit around lunchtime.
Police said workers were buried under prefabricated buildings that had collapsed at the site.
The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says the temporary homes and offices used by construction workers were just torn apart.The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says the temporary homes and offices used by construction workers were just torn apart.
Television pictures showed rescuers sifting through the debris, crawling through the remains of the shelters and rolling cars away from the scene as they searched for survivors.Television pictures showed rescuers sifting through the debris, crawling through the remains of the shelters and rolling cars away from the scene as they searched for survivors.
Local government officials said ten buildings collapsed elsewhere in the town. Local government officials said 10 buildings collapsed elsewhere in the town.
Small tornadoes happen from time to time in Japan - there are about twenty each year - but this one appears to have resulted in an unexpectedly high death toll. Small tornadoes happen from time to time in Japan - there are about 20 each year - but this one appears to have resulted in an unexpectedly high death toll.
Previously, the most deadly tornado recorded in Japan was in September 2006, when three people were killed on the southern island of Kyushu.