Japan continues its struggle with stormy weather as Typhoon Mindulle wreaks havoc over the Greater Tokyo Area on Monday. The onslaught left one person dead and several others injured in the capital, media reports indicate.
Flood waters claimed the life of a 58-year old woman in Sagamihara city in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. Injuries due to strong winds were rife across the capital region, urging many people to evacuate from their homes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that Typhoon Mindulle moved upwards to the Tohoku region after its landfall in Tokyo. Moving at a speed of 25 kph, the typhoon's 180 kph winds is set to affect much of Japan's northern areas.
Stormy weather across Japan forced the cancellation of more than 500 flights nationwide. Narita International Airport, one of Tokyo's two main international hubs, closed its runways temporarily after strong winds prompted air controllers to stop operations on the control tower, cancelling a total of 88 international flights and 34 domestic flights.
Japan Airlines cancelled 145 domestic flights throughout Japan, while All Nippon Airways did the same for its 96 domestic flights.
Train service around Tokyo was largely disrupted, leaving several commuters stranded. A commuter line in western Tokyo stopped its service temporarily after its train, tracks, and overhead line slanted as soil underneath the tracks softened. Bullet trains across affected areas cancelled services as well.
Typhoon Kompasu wrought havoc over Hokkaido, north of Japan, over the weekend, causing heavy flooding throughout the region. Typhoon Mindulle is also set to hit the northern island by late Tuesday, prompting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office to warn people of massive flooding and frequent landslides, particularly for people living in large cities affected by the storm such as Tokyo and Yokohama in the Kanto region, and Sendai in the Tohoku region.
