A powerful typhoon that brought strong winds and heavy rain to western Japan moved out to sea Sunday afternoon, leaving at least nine people dead, two missing and dozens injured.
According to public broadcaster NHK, more than 660,000 people across the country were ordered or urged to evacuate due to Typhoon Halong as of Sunday afternoon. But that number had fallen to 30,000 by 8 p.m. as many local governments lifted weather-related warnings.
The Meteorological Agency lifted a special heavy rain warning for Mie Prefecture at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Typhoon Halong was expected to keep moving north across the Sea of Japan, bringing heavy rain to eastern parts of the country later Sunday and to Hokkaido on Monday, the agency said.
In Takamatu, Kagawa Prefecture, a woman was found floating in a river on Sunday and was later confirmed dead.
In Gifu Prefecture, a man who was swept away in a river the previous day was confirmed dead Sunday, while a surfer was reported missing at a beach in Wakayama Prefecture.
About 70 people were also reported injured.
More than 320 flights were canceled and bullet train services on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines were partially suspended. About 145 train services were delayed Sunday on the Tokyo-Osaka bullet train section, affecting about 71,000 passengers.
Umaji, Kochi Prefecture, saw heavy rain early Sunday morning, recording 80.5 mm per hour at its peak.
Total rainfall from Typhoon Halong exceeded 1,000 mm in Umaji and 900 mm in Niyodogawa, both in Kochi Prefecture by 1:30 p.m. Torrential rain was also recorded in Tokushima and Mie prefectures.
The typhoon had prompted municipal governments in Tanabe and Minabe, Wakayama Prefecture, to order 4,500 residents to evacuate the area on Sunday, warning of possible floods and landslides.
The Kumano River in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, caused local flooding at around 11 a.m. on Sunday, the Wakayama Prefectural Government said, but no casualties or missing people were reported.
In Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, the Nakagawa River overflowed, flooding the first and second floors of a local junior high school. Six locals were evacuated from the building after seeking refuge on the third floor.
About 140 residents in Hyogo Prefecture, including some in Takarazuka, were also urged to evacuate the area.
The Japan Times LTD.