Tropical Storm Etau slams into Japan

Six people have been injured in central Japan as Tropical Storm Etau made landfall in coastal areas of the Tokai region west of Tokyo. The storm caused widespread flooding as torrential rains lashed the area.

Japan’s weather agency issued warnings across Honshu as winds gusted as high as 125km/h, bringing flights and train services to a halt.

More than 10,000 residents were evacuated from their homes as the risk of floods and landslides became increasingly evident.

The eye of the storm made landfall on Chita Peninsula, 300km west of Tokyo shortly after 01:00GMT on Wednesday.

It has since swept quickly across the region at around 43km/h.

Tokyo recorded 105mm of rain on Tuesday with totals reaching 120mm in Oshima.

The rain was heavier still in Chichibu to the northwest of Tokyo with 219mm being measured here in 24 hours.

The rain was even more intense in Nikko where 249mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours up to midnight GMT on Wednesday.

A staggering 138mm fell in just six hours, making flash floods and landslides inevitable.

The storm will weaken further over the next few hours as it makes its way across the Sea of Japan. The winds are already down to around 65km/h with gusts are nearer 80km/h.

It will continue on its path towards Vladivostok in Russia. Although the winds are no longer an issue, some flooding is still likely as it spills across the far east of Russia.