Typhoon Rains Paralyze Japan

Extremely heavy rains caused by Typhoon Saomai hit central Japan, causing widespread destruction and four deaths. A record 9.3 cms. (more than 3 1/ inches) fell in an hour, paralyzing transport and forcing thousands to flee their homes as floods and landslides hit the country.

Estimates of the cost of the damage weren’t available yet, but according to reports from the BBC almost 200,000 people sought shelter from the floods; the main rail line between Tokyo and Osaka remains closed, stranding 50,000 people aboard stalled trains, and damage to roads and other infrastructure appears substantial.