TYPHOON Hagibis, which swept across central and eastern Japan on Saturday and Sunday, has claimed at least 44 lives in Japan as search-and-rescue operations continued yesterday. In addition, 14 people are listed as missing, and more than 100 others were injured during the weekend storm. The number of the injured is expected to rise during further search and rescue. About 38,000 people in 17 prefectures had evacuated their homes, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The Japan Coast Guard said a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship sank in Tokyo Bay with 12 crew aboard. Four were rescued, five were confirmed dead and an additional three were missing, a Coast Guard statement said. Local media said a 77-year-old woman died after she fell more than 40 meters while she was being placed in a rescue helicopter. The Tokyo Fire Department said the woman had not been strapped in properly while being airlifted in Iwaki City in Fukushima prefecture, a northern area devastated by the typhoon, Sky News reported. (SD-Xinhua) |