Central Japan was hit by a major typhoon, called Man-yi on Monday, September 16, 2013. More than 400,000 households in four prefectures were told to evacuate and there are concerns that the storm could hit the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
A landfall occurred due to the typhoon in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, shortly before 8 am. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the wind speeds were up to 162 km per hour. According to the public broadcaster NHK, one woman was found dead and three other people were missing due to landslides or floods, at least 65 people were injured and more than 300 homes were flooded across the western and central Japan.
The highest alert was issued by the agency after possibly unprecedented heavy rain in Kyoto, Shiga, Mie and Hyogo prefectures and more than 400,000 households were advised to evacuate due to the typhoon. Hotel employees and rescue workers were seen towing a boat with four tourists on board in knee-deep water.
The Self Defense Forces were requested by the Kyoto prefectural government to deploy troops in order to join sandbagging and rescue operations. Winds were seen ripping off roofs and cars were overturned in the Saitama prefecture. The operators of the plant said that the storm can increase chances of contaminated water running into the sea.
Photo Credits: Channel News Asia
