Japan earthquake: Country shaken by quake minutes before Typhoon Hagibis slams into coast

Luke O'Reilly12 October 2019

Japan has been shaken by an earthquake minutes before Typhoon Hagibis slammed into the country's coast.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.3 quake was centred in the ocean off the coast of Chiba, near Tokyo, and was at 37 miles deep.

As the typhoon approached on Saturday, meteorological agency official Yasushi Kajihara told people: "Be ready for rainfall of the kind that you have never experienced."

He said areas usually safe from disasters may prove vulnerable, adding: "Take all measures necessary to save your life."

His warning came as more than 150,000 households have lost power, including in Chiba, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago, according to Japan's national broadcaster, NHK.

Typhoon Hagibis - In pictures

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Mr Kajihara said people who live near rivers must take shelter on the second floor or higher of any sturdy building if an officially designated evacuation centre was not easily accessible.

He also expressed fears that disaster may have already struck in some areas.

A residential area is flooded in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan (REUTERS)
Reuters

Hagibis, which means "speed" in Filipino, was advancing north-northwestward with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour, according to the meteorological agency.

The storm brought heavy rainfall in wide areas of Japan all day ahead of its landfall, including in Shizuoka and Mie prefectures, southwest of Tokyo, as well as Chiba to the north, which saw power outages and damaged homes in a typhoon last month.

Under gloomy skies, a tornado ripped through Chiba on Saturday, overturning a car in the city of Ichihara and killing a man inside the vehicle, city official Tatsuya Sakamaki said.

Five people were injured when the tornado ripped through a house. Their injuries were not life-threatening, Mr Sakamaki said.

Damaged homes caused by strong wind brought by Typhoon Hagibis in Ichihara, Chiba prefecture (Jiji PressS/AFP via Getty Images)
Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

The heavy rain caused rivers to swell, flipped anchored boats and whipped up sea waters in a dangerous surge along the coast, flooding some residential neighbourhoods and leaving people to wade in ankle-deep waters and cars floating.

In Shizuoka, one of two men who went missing in the Nishikawa River was rescued, Gotemba city official Fumihiko Katsumata said.

Firefighters said the two men were working at a river canal to try to control overflowing when they were swept away.

Authorities also warned of mudslides, common in mountainous Japan.

Public broadcaster NHK said Shiroyama dam in Kanagawa prefecture, also south-west of Tokyo, may release some of its waters, which were nearing limits.

An overflooded dam is likely to cause greater damage, and so releasing some water gradually is a standard emergency measure.

Rugby World Cup matches, concerts and other events in the area were cancelled, while flights were grounded and train services halted.

Authorities acted quickly, with warnings issued earlier in the week, including urging people to stay indoors.

Some 17,000 police and military troops were called up, standing ready for rescue operations.

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