Storm speeds out of Japan after injuring scores

A weakening tropical storm was speeding out of Japan on Monday after bringing gale-strength winds to Tokyo and leaving at least two people dead and more than 180 injured.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency had warned Tokyo residents to stay indoors while Typhoon Jelawat passed on Sunday night. The storm then had winds of up to 126km/h but weakened to a tropical storm with 108km/h in the morning.

A 56-year-old man was confirmed to have drowned in Mie, central Japan, after going missing on Sunday, local officials said.

A 29-year-old man was swept to his death by high waves when Jelawat hit the southern island of Okinawa on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK reported. 

NHK also reported that at least 181 people were injured in typhoon-related incidents across the nation. Tens of thousands of homes were without electricity.

On Sunday, Nagoya city issued an evacuation advisory to more than 50,000 residents because of fear of flooding from a swollen river. A similar advisory was issued for more than 10,000 people in the northern city of Ishinomaki that was hit by last year’s tsunami.

More than 500 flights, mainly in western Japan, were cancelled on Sunday and some shinkansen bullet train services across the country were suspended, news reports said.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse in Tokyo