Deadly Typhoon Jebi strikes western Japan

A powerful typhoon made landfall in western Japan Tuesday, leaving at least six people dead, disrupting travel, and forcing evacuations. Typhoon Jebi first struck the island of Shikoku and near Kobe on Japan’s main island of Honshu before heading toward the Sea of Japan. The Kyodo news service said the typhoon is the strongest to make landfall in the country since 1993. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the storm maintained winds of 100 miles per hour with gusts up to 130 mph. NHK television reported at least six people died and more than 160 others sustained injuries.

In Osaka, Kansai International Airport shut down after one of its runways and some of its other facilities flooded. Authorities canceled more than 700 flights in the country and suspended high-speed bullet train service between Osaka and Hiroshima. More than a million people received evacuation advisories as wind and rain intensified. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe canceled a visit to the country’s southwestern region to supervise the government response.