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Powerful typhoon moves towards northern Japan

Other News Materials 22 September 2011 09:22 (UTC +04:00)
Typhoon Roke was off the east coast of Japan's northern island Thursday with the meteorological agency warning of mudslides, flooding and strong winds across the country.
Powerful typhoon moves towards northern Japan

Typhoon Roke was off the east coast of Japan's northern island Thursday with the meteorological agency warning of mudslides, flooding and strong winds across the country, DPA reported.

As of 11 am (0200 GMT), the typhoon was 170 kilometres east-north-east of the city of Nemuro on the island of Hokkaido, and moving north-east at 55 kilometres per hour, the agency said.

Roke, the 15th typhoon of the season, had maximum sustained winds of 126 kilometres per hour and gusts of 180 kilometres per hour, the agency said.

The typhoon passed through the north-east overnight, causing floods in some residential areas, and affecting the region devastated by a magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

No new damage was reported at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station despite the inflow of some rainwater into reactor buildings. The plant has been leaking radioactive material since it was hit by the disaster.

The public broadcaster NHK reported the typhoon left 10 dead and five missing, many of whom were swept away by rivers swollen with rain. NHK also reported 314 people were injured across the country.

On Wednesday, the typhoon made landfall near the city of Hamamatsu, 250 kilometres south-west of Tokyo.

The typhoon also hit the Tokyo metropolitan area Wednesday evening. Many commuters were stranded at stations as most train services were temporarily suspended in the area.

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