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Japan Typhoon Wipha kills 13 people | Japan Typhoon Wipha kills 13 people |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 13 people have been killed after a powerful typhoon passed close to the Japanese capital, reports say. | At least 13 people have been killed after a powerful typhoon passed close to the Japanese capital, reports say. |
Typhoon Wipha caused landslides and flooding on Izu Oshima island, south of Tokyo, with several houses destroyed. | Typhoon Wipha caused landslides and flooding on Izu Oshima island, south of Tokyo, with several houses destroyed. |
Many people died when their homes collapsed or were buried in mudslides on the island. Two were found dead near a river. | |
In Tokyo, flights were cancelled, bullet train services suspended and schools closed. | In Tokyo, flights were cancelled, bullet train services suspended and schools closed. |
"It is the strongest typhoon in 10 years to pass the Kanto [Tokyo area] region," Hiroyuki Uchida, the Japan Meteorological Agency's chief forecaster, told journalists on Tuesday. | |
The storm brought strong winds and record rainfall - 122mm (4.8 inches) in one hour on Wednesday morning - to Izu Oshima island, which lies some 120km (75 miles) south of Tokyo. | The storm brought strong winds and record rainfall - 122mm (4.8 inches) in one hour on Wednesday morning - to Izu Oshima island, which lies some 120km (75 miles) south of Tokyo. |
Officials on the island said that 13 bodies had found and more than 50 people were unaccounted for. | |
"We have no idea how bad the extent of damage could be," town official Hinani Uematsu said. | |
Local media described mud and debris strewn around houses. | |
"I heard a crackling sound and then the trees on the hillside all fell over," a woman on the island told national broadcaster NHK television. | "I heard a crackling sound and then the trees on the hillside all fell over," a woman on the island told national broadcaster NHK television. |
"Then mud slid as far as the house." | "Then mud slid as far as the house." |
Rescuers were struggling to access many areas, local reports said. | |
"City hall and fire station officials are doing rescue work in places accessible," a local official told AFP news agency. | "City hall and fire station officials are doing rescue work in places accessible," a local official told AFP news agency. |
In Tokyo, a search was under way for two young boys last seen on a beach, reports said. | |
Around 400 domestic and international flights were also cancelled in the capital, Kyodo news agency said. | Around 400 domestic and international flights were also cancelled in the capital, Kyodo news agency said. |
Nearly 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate and thousands of schools shut as a result of the typhoon, Reuters news agency reported. | Nearly 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate and thousands of schools shut as a result of the typhoon, Reuters news agency reported. |
Typhoon Wipha was expected to move north-east and weaken over the course of the day. | |
It was expected to pass close to the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, where contaminated water used to cool reactor cores is being stored in temporary tanks. | It was expected to pass close to the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, where contaminated water used to cool reactor cores is being stored in temporary tanks. |
The plant operator said it was pumping out rainwater from its storage tanks. | The plant operator said it was pumping out rainwater from its storage tanks. |
"We are making preparations for proper management of contaminated water. We will patrol places that could have inflows of water [from the storm]," a spokesman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company said on Tuesday. | |
Izu Oshima, a volcanic island popular with tourists, has more than 8,000 residents. |