Typhoon Lionrock hits northern Japan, killing at least 10 people
A CATASTROPHIC typhoon has killed at least 10 people in northern Japan, after the powerful tropical cyclone pounded the region.
A CATASTROPHIC typhoon has killed at least 10 people in northern Japan, after the powerful tropical cyclone pounded the region.
It was reported nine of the dead were at an elderly care home in the town of Iwaizumi, in Iwate prefecture, and an old woman was killed in Kuji City, according to broadcaster NHK.
“We are trying to confirm the identities of these bodies,” Iwate prefectural police Shuko Sakamoto told AFP, confirming that nine corpses were found inside the care home.
Typhoon Lionrock smashed northern Japan on Tuesday evening, dumping heavy rains causing flooding and power outages.
At least two rivers swollen by Typhoon Lionrock have broken through embankments, flooding areas in northern Japan.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism, told NHK the embankments gave way before dawn on Wednesday on the northern island of Hokkaido.
The typhoon has hit an area that in northern Japan was still recovering from the tsunami in 2011.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 9 hit northeasten Japan which caused the disastrous tsunami which left almost 16,000 dead, about 6000 injured and 2562 people missing.
Police received reports people were trapped in the aged care home after Typhoon Lionrock caused flooding but when police arrived they found the bodies.
People are being rescued by helicopters and the aged care home is partly buried in mud and rubble.
AP reports authorities in the town of Minami-furano are reporting people are trapped in houses and shelters after the Sorachi river flooded.
There’s also serious flooding south of Hokkaido in Iwate prefecture on Japan’s main island, Honshu.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency told AP at least three people were injured across northern prefectures — Aomori, Akita and Miyagi.
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water, and the typhoon made landfall near the city of Ofunato, 500km northeast of Tokyo.
According to AP it’s the first time a typhoon has made landfall in the northern region since 1951, when the Japan Meteorological Agency started keeping records.
More than 170,000 people were subject to evacuation, including 38,000 in Ofunato, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
More than 10,000 homes in the northern region were without electricity, with power lines damaged from the winds.
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