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Typhoon Hagibis: Biggest Japan storm in decades makes landfall | Typhoon Hagibis: Biggest Japan storm in decades makes landfall |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Torrential rain and tornado-like winds are lashing large parts of Japan, as the country endures what could be its worst storm for 60 years. | Torrential rain and tornado-like winds are lashing large parts of Japan, as the country endures what could be its worst storm for 60 years. |
The eye of Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on Japan's main island shortly before 19:00 local time (10:00 GMT), in Izu Peninsula, south-west of Tokyo. | |
It is now moving up the eastern coast, with wind speeds of 225km/h (140mph). | It is now moving up the eastern coast, with wind speeds of 225km/h (140mph). |
One man was killed in Chiba, east of Tokyo, when his car overturned, and at least 60 people have been injured. | |
More than seven million people have been urged to leave their homes amid severe flood and landslide warnings, but it's thought only 50,000 are staying in shelters. | |
Train services have been halted, and more than a thousand flights grounded. Thousands of homes lost power in and around the capital earlier on Saturday, though some were swiftly reconnected. | |
Two Rugby World Cup games scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled and declared as draws - England-France and New Zealand-Italy. Formula 1 has also cancelled qualifying races for Saturday's Japanese Grand Prix. | Two Rugby World Cup games scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled and declared as draws - England-France and New Zealand-Italy. Formula 1 has also cancelled qualifying races for Saturday's Japanese Grand Prix. |
Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that half a metre of rain could fall on the Tokyo area between midday on Saturday and Sunday. | |
"Unprecedented heavy rain has been seen in cities, towns and villages for which the emergency warning was issued," JMA forecaster Yasushi Kajiwara told a press briefing. | "Unprecedented heavy rain has been seen in cities, towns and villages for which the emergency warning was issued," JMA forecaster Yasushi Kajiwara told a press briefing. |
"The possibility is extremely high that disasters such as landslides and floods have already occurred. It is important to take action that can help save your lives." | "The possibility is extremely high that disasters such as landslides and floods have already occurred. It is important to take action that can help save your lives." |
'A blanket and a biscuit' | 'A blanket and a biscuit' |
Local resident James Babb spoke to the BBC from an evacuation centre in Hachioji, western Tokyo. He said the river near his house was on the brink of overflowing. | |
"I am with my sister-in-law, who is disabled," he said. "Our house may flood. They have given us a blanket and a biscuit." | "I am with my sister-in-law, who is disabled," he said. "Our house may flood. They have given us a blanket and a biscuit." |
Andrew Higgins, an English teacher who lives in Tochigi, north of Tokyo, told the BBC he had "lived through a few typhoons" during seven years in Japan. | Andrew Higgins, an English teacher who lives in Tochigi, north of Tokyo, told the BBC he had "lived through a few typhoons" during seven years in Japan. |
"I feel like this time Japan, generally, has taken this typhoon a lot more seriously," he said. "People were out preparing last night. A lot of people were stocking up." | "I feel like this time Japan, generally, has taken this typhoon a lot more seriously," he said. "People were out preparing last night. A lot of people were stocking up." |
Only last month Typhoon Faxai wreaked havoc on parts of Japan, damaging 30,000 homes, most of which have not yet been repaired. | Only last month Typhoon Faxai wreaked havoc on parts of Japan, damaging 30,000 homes, most of which have not yet been repaired. |
"I evacuated because my roof was ripped off by the other typhoon and rain came in. I'm so worried about my house," a 93-year-old man told Japan's national broadcaster NHK, from a shelter in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. | "I evacuated because my roof was ripped off by the other typhoon and rain came in. I'm so worried about my house," a 93-year-old man told Japan's national broadcaster NHK, from a shelter in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. |
What else do we know about the typhoon? | What else do we know about the typhoon? |
Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is forecast to hit the main Japanese island of Honshu. | Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is forecast to hit the main Japanese island of Honshu. |
It could be the strongest storm the country has faced since Typhoon Vera in 1959, which hit Japan with winds of 306km/h (190mph) and left more than 5,000 people dead or missing. | It could be the strongest storm the country has faced since Typhoon Vera in 1959, which hit Japan with winds of 306km/h (190mph) and left more than 5,000 people dead or missing. |
By Saturday afternoon local time, footage and pictures showed many rivers were close to breaching their banks. | By Saturday afternoon local time, footage and pictures showed many rivers were close to breaching their banks. |
Locals stocked up on provisions before the typhoon's arrival on the authorities' advice, leaving supermarkets with empty shelves. | Locals stocked up on provisions before the typhoon's arrival on the authorities' advice, leaving supermarkets with empty shelves. |