Japanese capital braces for powerful typhoon Hagibis

A powerful typhoon is forecast to bring about 60 centimetres of rain and destructive winds to the Tokyo area this weekend.

The weather disrupted a Formula One Grand Prix and rugby’s World Cup, and raising fears of transport chaos.

“The typhoon could bring record-level rainfall and winds,” an official at the Japan Meteorological Agency told a news conference.

“In order to protect your own life and your loved ones, please try to start evacuating early before it gets dark and the storm becomes powerful,” Meteorological Agency forecast department chief Yasushi Kajihara advised people.

Kajihara said Typhoon Hagibis resembled a typhoon that hit the Tokyo region in 1958 with heavy rain that left a half-million houses flooded. More than 1,200 people died in that storm.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet was to hold a disaster management meeting later on Friday.

“The government is doing the utmost to prepare for the approaching typhoon,” disaster management minister Ryota Takeda told reporters, and urged people to prepare early and obtain food and water.

Economy Minister Isshu Sugawara urged hospitals and other public facilities to check their backup power.

All Nippon Airways grounded all domestic flights on Saturday at Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita international airports, while Japan Airlines canceled all but early morning flights at Tokyo airports.

Central Japan Railway Co said it will cancel all bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka, except for several early Saturday trains connecting Nagoya and Osaka in the west.
Tokyo residents were starting to stock up on bottled water, cup noodles and other food.