Published 11:50 IST, October 15th 2019
Typhoon Hagibis batters Japan: Death toll mounts to 67, 200 injured
The death toll due to Typhoon Hagibis in Japan has risen approximately 67. 15 people are believed to be missing and more than 200 people have been injured.
The death toll due to Typhoon Hagibis in Japan increased to approximately 67 on October 15. At least 15 people are believed to be missing and more than 200 people were injured in the storm. The approximate number of houses in 13 prefectures of Japan that remain without water supply and electricity is around 1,00,000. According to the reports, a huge number of rescue officials were on the lookout on Monday with a hope to find survivors of a devastating hurricane that struck Japan on October 12.
Rescue and search operations underway
Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe stated that a lot of people are still missing and efforts are being put in to find them. In addition to this, the nation's meteorological department stated that with the possibility of a downpour in the coming days, floods and landslides could pose a threat to both infrastructure and human beings. Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, requested every single person to stay alert at all times and keep an eye for possible landslides and floods and further added that the government is trying its best to engage in rescue and search operations. Thousand of homes in close proximity to the sea and riverways were reportedly drowned and it hit the country's largest island Honshu as well. Prime Minister, Abe has also convened an emergency meeting of ministers and set up a task force to deal with damage from the storm.
One of the most dangerous Typhoons to hit Japan
Hagibis is one of the most dangerous Typhoons to hit Japan in decades as it came in with wind speeds up to 216kmh. It was the consistent downpour that caused the most damage in the typhoon-hit areas. In Nagano, a crack in a embankment designed to stop water from overflowing resulted in water from the Chikuma stream spouting into the areas that were nearby. As the water gradually receded, patients were being moved by rescue vehicles from a Nagano emergency clinic where about 200 patients were left stranded due to the flooding. In a different area, rescuers used helicopters to save survivors from rooftops or by boats through muddy waters in flood and landslide-hit areas.
(With inputs from ANI)
Updated 15:05 IST, October 15th 2019