Society

Storm Noru sweeping across Japan main island

Aug 08 (NHK) - A tropical storm is ripping through Japan`s main island of Honshu, bringing heavy rain to wide areas. Two people have died and 47 others injured.

The Meteorological Agency says Noru made landfall in Wakayama Prefecture near Osaka on Monday afternoon after being downgraded from a typhoon the day before.

As of 8 AM on Tuesday, the storm was estimated to be passing through Niigata Prefecture and moving north-northeast at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals and was packing winds of up to 72 kilometers per hour.

Torrential rains are hitting spots in wide areas. The city of Maibara in Shiga Prefecture has seen more than 300 millimeters of rain since downpours started on Monday morning.

Authorities of many municipalities are advising people to be on the alert for landslides and floods.

Evacuation advisories remain in place for about 106,000 people in 8 prefectures.

The storm grounded 450 domestic flights on Monday.

Airlines have decided to cancel 26 flights on Tuesday, including those connecting Tokyo's Haneda Airport to areas in western and central Japan.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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