Typhoon Hagibis: Navy Ships Provide Assistance To Japan As Rescue Operations Continue

Two ships of Indian Navy - INS Sahyadri and INS Kiltan – have been pressed into service to provide assistance to Japan which has been smashed by typhoon Hagibis. Around 7.3 million people were given non-compulsory evacuation orders as floods and landslides hit several parts of the country after the typhoon made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday. Nearly 33 people have been killed and hundreds injured due to the destruction.

"As Japan battles the devastation and damage from #Typhoon #Hagibis. #IndianNavy ships #INSSahyadri & #INSKiltan mission deployed in the area are ready to render assistance as requested. @PMOIndia @IndianEmbTokyo @SpokespersonMoD," the Navy said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths due to the cyclone caused by Typhoon Hagibis and said Indian navy personnel who are on a scheduled visit to Japan would be happy to assist.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi said that the "preparedness and resilience of the Japanese people and the leadership of my friend" Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be able to address the aftermath of the Typhoon effectively and quickly.

Helicopters, boats and thousands of troops were deployed across Japan to rescue people stranded in flooded homes Sunday. Public broadcaster NHK said 14 rivers across the nation had flooded, some spilling out in more than one spot.

Early a government spokesperson said that some 3,76,000 homes were without electricity, and that 14,000 lacked running water. However, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said claimed that more than 66,000 homes are without power. Tohoku Electric Co. said 5,600 homes still lacked electricity, in the northern prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima. Both utilities said they were working to restore power.

Several train services in the Tokyo area have resumed, while others restarted later. Ruling party politician Fumio Kishida said the government would do its utmost in rescue operations, including making sure that those who moved to shelters were taken care of.

He acknowledged that Japan's power grids need to be strengthened so people in disaster areas can rely on timely information.

The Rugby World Cup match between Namibia and Canada, scheduled for Sunday in Kamaishi, in northern Japan, was cancelled as a precautionary measure, but Japan played Scotland, to a win, as scheduled Sunday evening. Matches on Saturday had been cancelled. Stores and amusement parks had also closed, and some Tokyo stores remained closed Sunday.

With Agency Inputs