Reuters AlertNet Lite - One dead, dozens injured as typhoon batters Tokyo

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One dead, dozens injured as typhoon batters Tokyo

06 Sep 2007 22:42:20 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - One man was killed and dozens of others injured as a typhoon pounded Tokyo and surrounding areas on Friday, snarling transport around one of the world's largest cities.

A 76-year-old man was killed by a falling tree in the resort town of Karuizawa, northwest of Tokyo, local police said.

The capital's Haneda airport was crowded with people waiting for flights to resume after hundreds were cancelled on Thursday and early Friday, broadcaster NHK said.

Some expressways were closed and trains including high speed bullet services were delayed or cancelled on many lines as commuters began to make their way to work.

Typhoon Fitow, whose name means "beautiful fragrant flower" in a Micronesian language, was close to the city of Fukaya, about 80 kms northeast of Tokyo as of 5 a.m. (0800 GMT Thursday), bringing with it winds gusting up to 50 km an hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The storm is expected to weaken as it moves north at about 30 km an hour, but the agency warned of floods, high winds and rough seas as Fitow beats a path towards the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.

Record rainfalls were recorded in parts of western Tokyo and hundreds of households were advised to evacuate as the Tama river came close to bursting its banks, public broadcaster NHK said.

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Last updated:Thu Sep 6 22:42:43 2007