TOKYO, August 10 (RIA Novosti) – At least nine people became victims of strong wind and rain caused by the cyclone Halong in Japan, Kyodo news agency reported Sunday.
Earlier in the day, NHK channel said two people were killed in the natural disaster, while 80 received injuries of varying severity. Two people were also reported missing.
Typhoon Halong, raging over southern Japan for the past days, was downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday and headed toward the Sea of Japan, according to Japan Meteorological Agency.
Halong is currently passing over the Honshu Island with the central pressure of 975 millibars and the speed of 67 miles per hour (30 meters per second), while the gusts of wind reach up to 100 miles per hour (45 meters per second). The storm is approaching the northeastern regions of Japan with the speed of 21 miles per hour (35 kilometers per hour).
A special warning calling for evacuation due to the heavy rain and squally wind was issued for 1.25 million residents, according to NHK.
Japan’s leading airlines on Sunday cancelled 309 flights, after nearly 500 more cancelled on Saturday. Over 3,500 houses were left without power.
The Meteorological Agency on Saturday has issued a special warning for Kii Peninsula’s southern Mie Prefecture on the Honshu Island. Such warning implies that the natural disaster, which occurs once in dozens of years, is likely to cause heavy damage and casualties. The storm alert has also been issued for the Shikoku Island, as well as for the regions of Kyushu, Tokai, Kanto, Hokuriku and the western part of Japan’s main island Honshu.
