Typhoon leaves 2 dead in Japan; thousands evacuated

TOKYO

 At least two people have been killed after a powerful typhoon hit the western Japanese island of Shikoku while hundreds of thousands of residents have been advised to evacuate, according to local media Friday.

Kyodo News reported that a 71-year-old man lost his life due to head injuries sustained while reinforcing window glass, and an 85-year-old while apparently inspecting an agricultural canal in Hyogo prefecture on the main island of Honshu.

Local authorities in Shikoku’s Kochi prefecture and other areas advised at least 367,800 residents to evacuate their homes amid concerns of landslides and flooding as Typhoon Nangka moves northward into the Sea of Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of heavy rainfall and strong winds after the storm made landfall near Cape Muroto in Kochi at around 11 p.m. (1500GMT) Thursday.

While the cape was hit by winds of at least 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour, as far north as Fukushima prefecture experienced hourly rainfall of 77.5 millimeters, a record for July, according to Kyodo.

The agency also reported widespread transportation disruption as airlines and railways canceled or suspended services -- primarily in the west.

More than 210 flights were canceled Thursday, including those between Shikoku and capital Tokyo.

Dozens of flights and ferry services were also canceled Friday, and sections of expressways sealed off.

The meteorological agency announced that 40 centimeters of rain was expected in Shikoku and Nagoya city to the northeast, and around 50 centimeters in Osaka city until midnight Friday. Tokyo and its surrounding region may experience 25 centimeters of precipitation.