Typhoon Malakas causes widespread damage in Japan
Heavy storm-induced precipitation from Typhoon Malakas, which made landfall on Kyushu Island, Japan, early in the morning local time on September 20, 2016, has resulted in widespread flooding, with damage to buildings, vehicles, and roadways, as well as crops, according to catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide.
Although Malakas made landfall with wind speed equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, it caused greater impact from the soaking rain from the storm.
110 millimetres (4.33 inches) of rain was reported in Takanabe in Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu September 19, for example, while more than 578 millimeters (22 inches) were recorded in Nobeoka, also in Myazaki Prefecture, during a 24-hour period ending the morning of September 20.
Widespread flooding caused damage to both home and vehicles, with some areas so with flood waters causing houses to collapse, and a number of drivers having to be rescued from submerged cars.
More than 114,000 household on Kyushu Island were reported to have lost power when wind and rain felled utility poles.
The sixth typhoon to make landfall on Japan in the 2016 season, Malakas weakened quickly after moving overland and soon was downgraded to a tropical storm.
