TOKYO: Rescuersin Japan were working around the clock yesterday in an increasingly desperatesearch for survivors of a powerful weekend typhoon that killed more than 70people and caused widespread destruction. Hagibis slammed into Japan onSaturday, unleashing fierce winds and unprecedented rain that triggeredlandslides and caused dozens of rivers to burst their banks.
By yesterdaynight, public broadcaster NHK put the toll at 72, with around a dozen peoplemissing. The government's tally was lower, but it said it was still updatinginformation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there was no plan to slow rescueoperations, with around 110,000 police, coast guard, firefighters and militarytroops involved. "Rescue work and searches for the missing are continuingaround the clock," Abe told parliament. "Where rivers flooded, workis ongoing to fix spots where banks broke, and water is being pumped out wherefloods occurred," he added.
His office saidmore than 3,000 people were rescued in the wake of the disaster, which affected36 of the country's 47 prefectures. The defense ministry has called up severalhundred reserve troops -- in addition to active duty soldiers -- for the firsttime since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masakowere "deeply grieving for so many people affected", an ImperialHousehold Agency official said.
The royal couple"expressed their sincere condolences for those who lost their lives... andheartily hope that those who are unaccounted for will be found as soon aspossible," the official said. Despite the scale of the disaster, thegovernment has no plan to delay a palace ceremony and parade to celebrateNaruhito's enthronement on October 22.
Rain prompts newwarnings
Governmentofficials warned that more rain was expected throughout the Tuesday in severalparts of the country affected by the typhoon. "We ask people not to droptheir guard and to remain fully alert," chief cabinet secretary YoshihideSuga told reporters.
Hagibis crashedinto land packing gusts up to 216 kilometers per hour, but it was the storm'sheavy rain that caused the most damage. Deaths were reported across manyprefectures and included a man whose apartment was flooded, a municipal workerwhose car was caught in rising waters and at least seven crew aboard a cargoship that sank in Tokyo bay on Saturday night.
By yesterdayevening, some 24,000 households were still without power, and 128,000 homes hadno water. Tens of thousands of people spent Monday night in governmentshelters, with many unsure when they would be able to return home. "Myfrightened daughter can't stop shaking. We want to go home quickly," RieNishioka, 39, told Kyodo News agency in Miyagi prefecture.
Governmentpledges aid
The governmentpledged financial support to affected regions without specifying how much aidit would set aside. "Support for the victims of the disaster is an urgenttask," Abe said. "There are concerns that the impact on daily lifeand economic activities may be long-lasting." Another area affected by thestorm was Fukushima, where several bags containing soil and plants collectedduring nuclear decontamination efforts were washed away.
"Ten bagsout of 2,667 were swept into a river during the typhoon, but six of them wererecovered yesterday," environment ministry official Keisuke Takagi toldAFP, adding that the remaining four bags had been found and would be collectedsoon. "Residents must be worried about the environment, but there are noreports that the bags were broken, so there will be nothing to worry about oncethey have been recovered safely," he said.
Transportyesterday was largely back to normal, though some flights were cancelled andtrain services partially disrupted where tracks or train stock were damaged bythe storm. The typhoon also caused disruption to sporting events, delayingJapanese Grand Prix qualifiers and forcing Rugby World Cup organizers to cancelthree matches. A crunch fixture pitting the hosts against Scotland went aheadon Sunday night, with Japan winning its first-ever quarter final spot. - AFP