Tropical storm Nangka kills 2, injures 38 in Japan — 550,000 told to flee

Weather Warnings/Advisories issued by Japan Meteorological Agency at 19:51 JST

A powerful tropical storm Nangka has claimed lives of at least two people and injured 38 in Japan. Evacuation orders and recommendations issued to some 555,000 people, The Japan Times reported.

A 71-year-old  man was found dead on Thursday in Awaji island, Hyogo Prefecture. Another 85-year-old man was also found dead Thursday night in Shiso, in Hyogo Prefecture.

Tropical storm Nangka made landfall near Cape Muroto on Shikoku island late Thursday with packing gusts up to 126 kilometers per hour. According to The Weather Channel, Nangka was the equivalent of a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale at landfall.

About seven hours later, Nangka made a second landfall after crossing the Seto Inland Sea separating Shikoku from Japan's largest island, Honshu. 

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said that 11 houses were damaged and 55 were flooded.

Kansai International Airport has cancelled at least 48 domestic and international flights while All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines together have aborted 31 flights at Itami airport in Osaka.

The weather agency has issued warnings for floods, gale-force winds, landslides and high waves in southern Japan.

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