Unstable atmospheric conditions extending across the country, including from the first typhoon to directly hit Kyushu in six years, spawned destructive tornados in the Kanto region Wednesday, two days after a twister wreaked havoc in Saitama, Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures.
Typhoon Toraji made landfall in Kyushu early Wednesday, prompting storm warnings, but the Meteorological Agency said the season's 17th typhoon had weakened to an extratropical cyclone near Shikoku at around 9 a.m. and was moving northeast at around 30 kph. A swollen river in Gifu Prefecture, however, may have swept a girl away, and police are searching for her.
The cities of Kanuma and Yaita in central Tochigi Prefecture were believed to have been hit by twisters that tore off roofs and shattered windows in the afternoon, police said.