Talas Typhoon Leaves 31 Dead and 50 Missing in Japan

Talas typhoon shook Japan killing at least 31 dead and 50 missing, officials said. The cyclone, which came by the Pacific, hit the coast of Japan on Saturday and brought torrential rains that caused overflowing rivers, floods and landslides that destroyed several buildings.

“We strive to regain control of the situation. The electricity is off and the destruction of roads prevents our vehicles to go into the affected areas,” said one of the firemen of Tanabe city, the brunt of Talas, in Wakayana Prefecture.

Meanwhile in Nachikatsura, a railway bridge was washed away, dozens of houses were destroyed and cars are stacked against the walls. Shinichi Teramoto, mayor of this town, also suffered a family tragedy since his house was submerged with his wife and daughter 24 years inside while he directed the operations. The girl’s body was found the next day but his wife is still missing. “I saw my daughter’s body. All I could do was stay with her for half an hour,” said Teramoto on television.
“I can not express my grief while I’m in office,” he said.

The ravages of Talas were felt the day after the arrival of the new center-left government of Yoshihiko Noda. “We will do our best to save lives and find the missing,” said Noda Monday.