Deadly Typhoon Bears Down on Northeastern Japan

Posted September 21st, 2011 at 3:22 am (UTC-5)
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Typhoon Roke is on course to reach northeastern Japan Wednesday, threatening to add to the destruction caused by the natural disasters that struck the region in March.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency says Roke made landfall in central Japan and is moving toward the northeast coast with maximum winds well over 100 kilometers an hour.

The storm has already left four people dead, with at least two others missing. Toyota Motor Corp., the country's top automaker, shut down evening production at 11 of its factories in central Japan as a precaution.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which was crippled during the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, is in the projected path of the storm. A spokesman for the plant's operator, said all efforts have been made to keep rainfall out of the facility and prevent radioactive water from spilling out of the damaged reactors.

Authorities issued an evacuation advisory for about 1 million people in the central city of Nagoya ahead of the Roke's arrival, warning that nearby rivers might overflow their banks and flood the area.

Evacuation orders or advisories remain in force for more than 330,000 people across western and central Japan.

Western Japan is still recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Talas, which left at least 80 people dead or missing earlier this month. The storm swept away roads and downed telephone and power lines, leaving more than 4,000 people isolated.