Evacuation Ordered as Typhoon Faxai Pummels Tokyo Region

A govt spokesperson confirmed at least 1 death related to the typhoon. Faxai made landfall near Chiba City at 5 a.m

Beach houses are damaged as typhoon hits the beacfront area in Miura, south of Tokyo, Monday, 9 September, 2019.

(Photo: Kyodo News via AP)

Evacuation advisories were issued to more than 110,000 households in Tokyo and surrounding areas ahead of Typhoon Faxai's landfall just east of the capital early on Monday, 9 September, Japanese media reported.

A government spokesperson confirmed at least 1 death related to the typhoon. Faxai made landfall near Chiba City around 5 a.m., according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Typhoon Faxai was upgraded to a “very strong” storm with potentially record winds and rain battering the Tokyo region late Sunday.

Faxai was packing winds of up to 216 kilometres (134 miles) per hour. The storm may have had winds equivalent to a strong Category 1 hurricane at landfall.

Authorities issued non-compulsory evacuation warnings to more than 110,000 people, as forecasters cautioned the rain and wind could reach “record” proportions.

“Please be on full alert against gusts and high waves and be vigilant about landslides, floods and swollen rivers,” the agency said in a statement.

Typhoon Kills 1, Disrupts Travel

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that he had received a report of one death and damage caused by toppling trees and flying objects. He said that some 900,000 power failures were also reported, according to The Guardian.

As of 4.30 a.m., videos began to surface on social media of floodwaters inundating roads to apartment complexes.

“This will remain a compact storm during its lifespan, Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk said, reported IANS.

The typhoon already caused some travel disruption on its approach with some 100 bullet trains connecting Tokyo with central and western Japanese cities scrapped on Sunday, along with ferries services in Tokyo bay.

Airlines have already cancelled more than 100 flights scheduled on Monday while some coastal highways were closed west of the capital in Kanagawa due to the storm, according to local media.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage but eight surfers were rescued amid high waves off Shizuoka in cental Japan after they were swept out to sea, local officials said.

“Two helicopters were dispatched while special rescuers rushed out to sea,” a fire department spokesman told AFP.

“We sent two of them to hospital but no one was in danger of dying,” he added.

Some department stores and amusement parks, including Tokyo Disneyland, closed earlier than scheduled due to the approaching storm.

Tropical Storms, an Annual Trend

Faxai was churning near Izuoshima island, south of Tokyo in the Pacific, at 10:00 pm on Sunday (1300 GMT), travelling north at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour and already producing high waves.

Japan is well used to severe tropical storms and typhoons during late summer and autumn.

Powerful typhoon Krosa lashed western Japan in mid-August, bringing strong winds and torrential rain that claimed one life.

And in late August, heavy rains left three people dead as massive floods also hit western Japan.

Typhoon Faxai comes just as teams begin arriving for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on 20 September.

North Korea is witessing the wrath of Typhoon Lingling, which has left five people dead and three injured in North Korea, state media reported on Sunday.