Published 13:59 IST, October 25th 2019
Japan: 60,000 people to evacuate as country preps for heavy rainfall
About 60000 to evacuate as storm-hit Japan braces for heavy rainfall due to Tropical storm Bualoi. Areas around Tokyo, Sagamihara, Chiba get evacuation advisory
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Thousands are set to be evacuated from areas surrounding Tokyo on October 25 as torrential rains after Typhoon Hagibis have led to flooding and landslides in eastern Japan. Earlier, 82 people were killed due to Hagibis' destruction in central and eastern Japan with heavy rains and high winds. Besides, over a dozen are missing and 300 or more have been reported to be injured. The evacuation advisory was put into place as authorities warned of the chance of further landslides and flooding, especially in areas hit by levee breaks that have yet to be repaired even provisionally.
Evacuation advisory issued in parts of Japan
About 50,000 people in Sagamihara, a city southwest of Tokyo that was hit hard by flooding after the typhoon, are advised to evacuate. As per reports, six were killed, including a family swept away in their car, and two remain missing in the storm. Similarly, some 10,000 in Chiba prefecture, just east of Tokyo, which was battered by heavy winds from Typhoon Faxai in September are also to be evacuated. The areas reportedly remained without power for weeks before being hit by rains from Hagibis.
Tropical storm Bualoi causing the rain
Rainfall is predicted to move into the Tokyo area until evening and then move north. About 200 to 300 mm (8-12 inches) of rainfall is expected by evening, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The rains occurred due to tropical storm Bualoi, which battered the Ogasawara islands south of the main Japanese archipelago on Thursday. As per Meteorological Agency, the storm is still a typhoon strength and headed out into the Pacific which might weaken to a tropical depression later on Friday.
Hagibis destruction
Typhoon Hagibis hit northern and central Japan in early October. Nagano, Fukushima, and Miyagi were hit hard due to the storm. As per Government reports, heavy rains from the typhoon caused rivers to overflow or damage dams in dozens of places. Moreover, farm crops were also seriously damaged, including apples, cabbage, and cucumbers. The agricultural damage was estimated to be as high as 70 billion yen ($700 million), said Japanese authorities.
(With inputs from agencies)
13:32 IST, October 25th 2019