375,000 people evacuated as Typhoon Vongfong continues to batter Japan

Just days after left three American servicemen were killed on Japan’s Okinawa Island, Typhoon Vongfong continued to batter its shores on Monday. Dozens of people have been injured and at least one fisherman is missing. The storm reached the southwestern tip of the four main Japanese islands and is expected to reach the Japanese capital Tokyo by Tuesday. Authorities issued landslide warnings and told at least 375,000 people to evacuate on Kyushu as Vongfong approached.

When Vongfong hits the mountains of Kyushu it will drop hundreds of millimetres of rain that could unleash flash flooding and landslides.

BBC report

Vongfong, which means wasp in Cantonese, currently has winds of up to 120km/h, the Japan Meteorological Agency says. Over the weekend, the typhoon knocked out the power supply in Okinawa and toppled trees and signposts.Vongfong had been categorised a super-typhoon as it picked up strength through several South Pacific islands, including Guam.

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