Typhoon kills 62 in Japan

TOKYO – Japan’s deadliest typhoon in more than two decades killed at least 62 people, media said yesterday as rescuers searched frantically for 27 still missing in floods and landslides.

Many people died in landslides set off by the heavy rains from Typhoon Tokage that pounded much of Japan on Wednesday. Others died in flooding or were swept away by massive waves as Tokage, which means lizard in Japanese, roared northeast.The typhoon, which moved out into the Pacific early yesterday and was downgraded to a tropical depression soon after, was a record 10th to hit Japan this year.Kyodo news agency said 62 were killed and 27 missing due to the typhoon, while the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 54 were killed and 26 missing.According to the Meteorological Agency, the number of people killed or unaccounted for was the highest for a single typhoon since 95 died or went missing due to one in 1982.A total of 167 people, including 102 trainees aged around 20, were rescued from their ship, the 2,556-tonne Kaio Maru, which ran aground on a breakwater in the middle of the storm.Sixteen on board the ship, which was waiting out the typhoon at Toyama, 255 km west of Tokyo, suffered injuries such as broken wrists.- Nampa-ReutersOthers died in flooding or were swept away by massive waves as Tokage, which means lizard in Japanese, roared northeast.The typhoon, which moved out into the Pacific early yesterday and was downgraded to a tropical depression soon after, was a record 10th to hit Japan this year.Kyodo news agency said 62 were killed and 27 missing due to the typhoon, while the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 54 were killed and 26 missing.According to the Meteorological Agency, the number of people killed or unaccounted for was the highest for a single typhoon since 95 died or went missing due to one in 1982.A total of 167 people, including 102 trainees aged around 20, were rescued from their ship, the 2,556-tonne Kaio Maru, which ran aground on a breakwater in the middle of the storm.Sixteen on board the ship, which was waiting out the typhoon at Toyama, 255 km west of Tokyo, suffered injuries such as broken wrists.- Nampa-Reuters