Super typhoon on track to drench Japan’s main island

TOKYO: Japan is bracing for a super typhoon on track to hit central and eastern regions over the three-day weekend with potential damage from torrential rains and strong winds.

Typhoon Hagibis has already caused cancellations of two Rugby World Cup matches that were to be played tomorrow.

Organisers cancelled the EnglandFrance match planned in Yokohama, near Tokyo, and New Zealand-Italy game in Toyoda, in central Japan.

Organisers also cancelled a marathon in Sendai and other northern coastal towns, and Formula One auto racing in Suzuka in central Japan may also be affected.

Hagibis, which means speed in Filipino, had maximum sustained winds of up to 270kph and stronger gusts at noon on Thursday near Chichi island in the Pacific, about 1,000km off Tokyo’s southern coast.

It was moving north at the speed of 20kph and is expected to weaken over cooler waters as it nears Japan’s main island. It’s the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says the typhoon is forecast to hit ashore in the Tokyo area late tomorrow and urged people to take precautions to avoid potentially life-threatening danger.

Japan’s central Pacific coast may see torrential rains beginning today while high waves and tides may cause flooding.

Airlines and train services anticipate cancellations affecting holidaymakers travelling over the threeday weekend.

The approaching typhoon is spreading fear especially in Chiba, near Tokyo, which was hit by Typhoon Faxai last month and many residents are still recovering from damage to their homes.

The typhoon tore many electrical poles and snapped cables, triggering extensive outages that lasted for weeks, contributing to heat illnesses and other health problems among elderly people. East Japan Railway Co said it may suspend services on most local lines and bullet trains around Tokyo before the typhoon arrives.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said they may ground flights as early as today depending on the typhoon’s movement.

Japan is regularly hit by Pacific storms, including Faxai in September. Typhoon Jebi flooded a terminal and a runway at Kansai International Airport last year.