At least 19 people have died and 16 are missing after Typhoon Hagibis, a powerful typhoon with wind gusts of up to 216kmh, devastated Tokyo on Saturday (Oct 12).
Some of the victims died in landslides, while others were swept away by floodwater in their cars due to the torrential rain.
According to Japan Today, 100 more were injured across the country. Public broadcaster NHK reported that many areas were hit by record amounts of rainfall and violent winds.
Moreover, over 420,000 buildings across the country have lost electricity due to the typhoon, said the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Rescue efforts
In response to the violent typhoon, Japan’s Defence Ministry has mobilized over 27,000 Self-Defense Force personnel for rescue operations all over the country.
The typhoon is so powerful that over 6 million people across 17 prefectures were advised to evacuate. Train operators also suspended most services, and airports in the metropolitan and surrounding areas shut down between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
A rugby match between Namiba and Canada in Kamaishi was also cancelled for safety reasons following torrential rains that caused flooding and landslides around the venue.
The evacuation advisories have since been lifted, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism said that at least 48 landslides and mudflows have been reported in 12 prefectures.
Nine rivers have also burst their banks.
Damage
The typhoon has moved away from the island and weakened to an extratropical cyclone, but it has left behind significant damage.
19 lives have been claimed by the destructive typhoon. Two of the victims were men in their 60s. One was killed in a landslide north of Tokyo, and the other died after he was pulled from his flooded home in Kawasaki city.
16 others are missing and over 100 are injured.
The devastating typhoon has also caused massive floods all across the country.
栃木市は川の氾濫でこんな感じです。
川の側はもっと凄いことに。#台風19号 pic.twitter.com/cxQ7TiWr0M— あんこ屋番長 (@TAKAYUK36484626) October 12, 2019
明るくなって見えた全貌
もう笑うしかない#郡山#逢瀬川#阿武隈川 #台風19号#水害#空ネット pic.twitter.com/2KKMHzL3e2— ゴマ (@goma_0pa) October 12, 2019
This picture below best illustrates how much rainfall the typhoon accumulated.
#多摩川、ぎりのぎりのぎり。
治水のノウハウの伝承があるのか、治水の神様がいるのか ..12日 22:21 川崎駅付近の多摩川#神奈川県 #川崎市 #幸区 幸町3丁目 (右岸)
河口より 6.5km#国土交通省 #ライブカメラ#台風 #台風19 #台風19号 #河川水位 #河川情報#多摩川氾濫 #大田区 #川崎市 #川の氾濫 pic.twitter.com/WI1Y9K11bS— よーすけ (@yosuke36x) October 12, 2019
We can only hope that the missing people are found soon and returned safely to their families and that those injured manage to survive.
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