Death toll nears 60 due to Typhoon Hagibis

NHK -- Oct 15

Emergency crews across Japan are racing against time to rescue over a dozen people who are still missing after Typhoon Hagibis ravaged the nation over the weekend. Authorities say the death toll stands at 58.

More than 200 were injured during the weekend storm. Officials say many areas received up to 40 percent of their yearly rainfall in only a day or two.

The storm caused about 200 rivers to overflow. Levees burst on about 50, flooding streets and residential areas. Among them ... the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo.

Houses across the region were flooded. Muddy waters are hampering cleanup efforts.

A resident said, "The home where I've lived for many years has been devastated. I couldn't hold back my tears when I came back from a shelter and realized what had happened."

The floodwaters have also crippled one of Nagano's major industries: apple farming.

A apple farmer said, "They are no longer fit for sale, not even for juice because they're covered in fine dust. I have to toss them all. It makes me sad that I can't provide my customers with my apples."

A maintenance yard for the Hokuriku bullet train line was also swamped. Its operator says 10 trains and their 120 carriages were damaged when water levels rose by an estimated 4 meters.

Land ministry officials say they've received reports of about 140 landslides across the country.

In Gunma Prefecture north of Tokyo, three people were killed when their homes were washed away.

Relief efforts are ongoing as the full extent of the damage is assessed.

NHK has learned that floodwaters reached the first floor of about 8,000 houses and 800 others were damaged to some extent.

Authorities are urging people to remain cautious near swollen rivers and to be on the alert for possible landslides.

Oct 15 (ANNnewsCH) -

台風19号による死者はこれまでに11の県で55人、行方不明者は15人に上っています。

 ANNのまとめでは、台風19号によって亡くなった人は福島県で16人、神奈川県で12人、宮城県で10人、栃木県と群馬県でそれぞれ4人、埼玉県と岩手県、それに長野県でそれぞれ2人、茨城県と千葉県、静岡県でそれぞれ1人の合わせて55人に上っています。なかには、突風で乗っていた車が横転したり川の様子を見に行って流されたりした人がいました。半数近くは土砂崩れや河川の氾濫によって被害を受けた地域で亡くなっています。また、川に流されるなどして行方不明になっている人は神奈川県で5人、福島県と長野県でそれぞれ3人、宮城県で2人、茨城県と静岡県でそれぞれ1人の合わせて15人です。このほか、風にあおられて転倒するなどしてけがをした人は全国で197人に上っています。