Typhoon’s aftermath
Japanese forces rescue residents from the floodwaters Monday in Marumori, Japan. Crews dug through mudslides and checked areas near flooded rivers as they searched for those who are missing after Typhoon Hagibis. More photos are available at arkansasonline.com/1015japan
NAGANO, Japan — Rescue crews dug through mudslides and searched near swollen rivers Monday as they looked for those missing from a typhoon that left dozens dead and caused serious damage in central and northern Japan.
Typhoon Hagibis unleashed torrents of rain and strong winds Saturday, leaving thousands of homes on Japan’s main island flooded, damaged or without power.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a parliamentary session today that typhoon-related deaths have risen to 53, with 20 others missing.
The government’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, which is generally more conservative in assessing its numbers, said 24 people were dead and nine were missing.
Hagibis dropped record amounts of rain for a period in some spots, according to meteorological officials, causing more than 20 rivers to overflow. In Kanagawa prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, 39 inches of rain was recorded over 48 hours.
Abe said Monday that the government would set up a special disaster team, including officials from various ministries, to deal with the fallout from the typhoon, including helping those in evacuation centers and boosting efforts to restore water and electricity to homes.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said 35,100 homes were still without electricity early Monday evening in Tokyo and nearby prefectures that the utility serves. That was down from nearly 57,000 earlier in the day.