Typhoon Hagibis hits Japan : Seven million instructed to evacuate

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Torrential rain and rough winds are lashing large parts of Japan, as the country endures what could be its worst storm in 60 years. The eye of Typhoon Hagibis made landfall shortly before 19:00 local time in the Izu Peninsula, southwest of Tokyo. More than seven million people have been urged to leave their homes amid severe flood and landslide warnings. Train services have been halted, and more than a thousand flights grounded. A man was killed in Chiba, east of Tokyo when high winds flipped his car. Thousands of homes lost power in and around the capital, though some were swiftly reconnected. Two Rugby World Cup games scheduled for today(October 12) England Vs France and New Zealand Vs Italy have been cancelled and declared as draws. Formula 1 races have also been cancelled qualifying races for Saturday's Japanese Grand Prix. Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned half a metre of rain could fall on the Tokyo area between midday today and tomorrow (October 12 & 13). Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is forecast to hit the main Japanese island of Honshu. Locals stocked up on provisions before the typhoon's arrival on the authorities' advice, leaving supermarkets with empty shelves.