Typhoon Noru makes landfall in Japan

Tokyo Aug 7 (IANS) Typhoon Noru the fifth this year made landfall on Monday in Japan s Wakayama prefecture the weather agency said.

The typhoon with central atmospheric pressure at 970 hectopascals had winds at a speed of 30 metres per second near its centre with gusts reaching nearly 45 metres per second Xinhua news agency quoted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as saying.

Heavy rains battered western Japan and the JMA has warned about possible flooding mudslides violent winds and high waves.

As of 3 p.m. (local time) a total of 73 000 people in 32 000 households in western Japan s five prefectures were ordered to evacuate.

On Sunday two people were killed and 15 others injured as typhoon Noru drew near the main islands of Japan bringing violent winds and torrential rains with it.

--IANS
ksk/vt