Typhoon Mindulle, ninth in the season, lashes North Japan

Tokyo, Aug 23: Japanese authorities have warned of extensive flooding and issued evacuation orders for 9,000 persons in Hokkaido prefacture on Tuesday as Typhoon Mindulle lashed northern Japan.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Mindulle on Tuesday (Aug 23) morning made landfall in the Hidaka region of Hokkaido and downgraded to an extra-tropical cyclone, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mindulle, the ninth typhoon of the season, left 30 persons injured and interrupted transport in and around Tokyo, while 850,000 persons were asked to evacuate on Monday.

The evacuation order in six districts across Hokkaido came after the rivers inundated the surrounding areas, JMA said.

The torrential rains causing the rivers to overflow led to the cancellation of transportation services of both railways and air flights.

At least one person died and scores were injured as heavy winds and rains caused people to evacuate homes and vehicles.

The agency on Tuesday also issued a warning of another typhoon forming around 370 km off the coast of Minami Daito Island in Okinawa prefecture.

IANS