Tokyo - The death toll from Typhoon Hagibis, one of the most
powerful typhoons to hit Japan in decades, has risen to 66,
broadcaster NHK reported.
The storm dumped record rainfall across wide areas of the country on
Saturday, triggering flooding and landslides.
Relief and rescue operations continued on Tuesday as the country
tried to grasp the extent of the damage.
Fifteen people were still missing and more than 210 were injured in
the storm, according to NHK.
More than half of the 66 deaths were in the north-eastern prefectures
of Miyagi and Fukushima, which bore the brunt of Japan's 2011
earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.
About 60 per cent of the 5,500 people who remain in temporary
shelters following the storm are also in the two prefectures.
Recovery efforts continue to face major challenges as, according to
the government, 47 river banks collapsed and the typhoon triggered a
total of 140 landslides and mudslides in 19 prefectures, many of
which cut off road links.
Hagibis flooded more than 10,000 houses, 900 of which were heavily
damaged, NHK estimated.
Schools resumed on Tuesday after a public holiday on Monday. However,
a total of 235 public schools remained closed due to the impact of
the typhoon, the government said.
About 34,000 households remained without electricity and 138,000
without water supply, according to the government.
Three days after the storm, some train links, including high-speed
bullet-train services between Nagano and Joetsu-Myoko, are
still suspended.