Deadly Typhoon Wipha Slams Japan

A weather map of Typhoon Wipha.

Deadly Typhoon Wipha is a once in a decade storm.

As if Japan needed another natural disaster, Typhoon Wipha just passed over the island of Izu Oshima, south of Tokyo, bringing strong winds and 80 cm (31 1/2 in) of rain in merely 24 hours.

Fourteen people have been killed in landslides, so far, and houses have been buried or completely destroyed, and many more are unaccounted for.

Now, watch Tokyo and Fukushima as Wipha tracks north.

Once In A Decade Storm

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the storm as the most powerful in ten years, and the amount of rain has surpassed their records, which date back to 1991. 122 mm (5 in) of rain fell in just one hour on Wednesday morning.

After passing Izu Oshima, 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate as the typhoon approached Japan and the storm moved northward over the mainland of Japan.

Deadly Landslides

Due to landslides, rescue efforts are hampered on Izu Oshima. Affected areas are difficult to reach and search. Almost 300 homes have been destroyed on the island, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

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About Janet

Janet Starr Hull, PhD, CN has expressed a deep love and respect for the Earth since she was a very young child. She earned academic degrees in International Geography and Environmental Science. After 20 years of research, Dr. Hull uncovered evidence supporting her theory that the Earth’s geographic poles shift at the axis, causing dramatic climate change. Today, she is one of the world’s leading environmental experts promoting public environmental awareness. Connect with Dr. Hull on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.

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