Japan evacuates millions as typhoon batters southern regions

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan ordered over nine million people to evacuate as Typhoon Nanmadol "battered the southwestern part of Japan," state media reported on Monday.

Around 43 people were injured and millions were ordered to evacuate as the strong winds hit the region in the country’s south.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday that the typhoon left around 300,000 households without electricity.

Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 warning, the highest on Japan's disaster warning scale, against the typhoon, which hit Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

Southern provinces including Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Oita, Kumamoto and Yamaguchi are the most affected.

There are fears that a “very strong typhoon could trigger the kind of disasters that is seen only once in a few decades.”

Flights have been disrupted at airports across the country since Sunday.

The Japan Railways Group also said bullet train services are expected to be affected on Sunday and Monday.