Typhoon Melor makes landfall in Japan

Typhoon Melor on Thursday became the first tropical cyclone to hit Japan in two years, killing one and injuring 24 others.

After making landfall near Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture shortly after 5 a.m., the season's 18th typhoon, some 30 km southwest of Takasakishi in Gunma Prefecture, was moving northeast at a speed of 50 km per hour, with a maximum wind velocity of 30 meters per second at its center at 10:05 a.m. (0105 GMT), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

A 54-year-old died after hitting a tree felled by the typhoon on his bike while delivering newspapers in Minabe, Wakayama Prefecture, and 24 people in nine prefectures were injured due to strong winds in Aichi and Wakayama Prefectures, according to KyodoNews reports.

More than 320 domestic and several international flights to and from Narita, Chubu and Kansai airports were also cancelled, and up to 18 Tokaido Shinkansen bullet-train services and more than 20 services for Tohoku, Joetsu, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen were suspended, according to the operators.

Meanwhile, parts of expressways were closed in Shizuoka, Aichi and Mie prefectures. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, major railway routes, including Yamanote, Chuo, Keihin-Tohoku and Saikyo lines, were temporarily suspended.

The agency has issued warning against strong wind, heavy rain and tidal waves.

Source: Xinhua