Super typhoon approaches Japan, some World Cup rugby cancelled
10/10/2019 10:11
TOKYO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - A super typhoon bore down on Japan
on Thursday forcing the cancellation of two rugby World Cup
matches and some transport, and threatening to disrupt Japan's
Formula One Grand Prix race this weekend.
Parts of Japan are still recovering from a devastating
typhoon that struck a month ago, as the new storm, Typhoon
Hagibis, headed north over the Pacific towards Japan's main
island.
It could make landfall on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological
Agency said.
"Regardless of whether this typhoon makes landfall or not,
it will have a grave impact," an agency official told Reuters.
People should prepare for torrential rain, fierce winds,
high waves and storm surges, he said.
Rugby World Cup organisers have cancelled Saturday's game
between England and France as well as New Zealand's match
against Italy due to the risk from the typhoon, while a Sunday
game between hosts Japan and Scotland is in doubt.
The sport's governing body, World Rugby, and tournament
officials said the decision had been taken due to the expected
disruption, particularly to transport. nL3N26V0MJ
The Japanese airline ANA 9202.T will cancel all domestic
flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport and Narita airport in
Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Saturday, it said on its
website.
East Japan Railway Co 9020.T , which serves eastern Japan
including Tokyo, said it might have to suspend operations on
conventional lines as well as the Shinkansen bullet train
service over the weekend.
Operations of the Shinkansen linking Tokyo and the western
city of Osaka could also be cancelled over the weekend, Central
Japan Railway Co 9022.T said.
Organisers of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix said they
were keeping a close eye on the typhoon and were working to
minimise any disruption to this weekend's schedule.
The Suzuka circuit, which is set to host Sunday's race, is
about 300 km southwest of Tokyo. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N26V0PH
Typhoon Hagibis is expected to pass over or close to Chiba
prefecture, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago.
Faxai, one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in recent
years, destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused long power
cuts.
An official at the prefectural government's disaster
response headquarters urged people to get ready.
"In particular, we want them to store up at least three
days' worth of food and water," said the official, Naoto
Hayashi.
In Tokyo, which is also in the likely path of the storm, 1.5
million people live below sea level in eastern parts of the
city.
Experts have warned that as many as 5 million people would
have to be evacuated if massive dikes and levees in low-lying
areas were to be overwhelmed by surging floodwaters.
urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1VZ01N
Japan's navy, or Maritime Self Defense Force as it is known,
has cancelled two preview days of a fleet review and may have to
abandon the main event on Monday too.
The review, last held four years ago, is due to include 46
naval vessels, including a helicopter carrier, destroyers and
submarines, and 40 aircraft.
(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Linda Sieg, Tim Kelly
Editing by Robert Birsel)
((kiyoshi.takenaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 4563 2788;))