Terribly sad news.
Multiple fatalities have been confirmed as a result of Typhoon Hagibis, which has ravaged Japan over the last several days.
The typhoon has attracted global interest due to its impact on the Rugby World Cup, however, the storm has had much more severe and tragic implications for the people of Japan.
According to The Japan Times, as of Sunday afternoon, at least 33 people are confirmed dead with another 19 missing.
Additionally, there are at least 166 people injured.
Hagibis, which is the 19th named storm of the season, made landfall on Japan’s main island of Honshu at the start of the weekend, with wind speeds reach up to 144km/h.
Some of the cities and towns that have been flooded by the typhoon include Nagano, Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures.
Record levels of rainfall have also damaged infrastructure throughout Japan, causing levees to break and entire fleets of bullet trains to become flooded.
“I extend my condolences for all those who lost their lives and offer my sympathy to those who all those impacted by Typhoon Hagibis,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
