Typhoon Hagibis

At least 35 killed and 17 missing after Typhoon Hagibis tears through Japan

Hagibis, the 19th named storm of the season, tore through Japan’s main island of Honshu on Saturday and early Sunday packing winds of up to 144 kph at landfall, killing 35 and leaving 17 unaccounted for as of Sunday afternoon, according to Kyodo News. NHK reported 166 people were injured.

Cities and towns across the country — including in Nagano, Niigata, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures — were inundated by flood waters after levees failed in the face of record rainfall,forcing many people to abandon submerged homes.

Hagibis disaster motivated Japan

The hosts triumphed 28-21 in Yokohama, sparking jubilant scenes as they reached the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.

Japan have won four matches from four at their home tournament and, as Pool A winners, they go on to face South Africa next Sunday in Tokyo, with rugby fever gripping the country.

This has otherwise been a grim weekend in Japan, though, as the deadly tropical storm has claimed more than 20 lives, according to local reports, with many others missing and considerable damage done to property.

Japan deploys military rescuers as deadly storm hits

Typhoon Hagibis made landfall south of Tokyo on Saturday, moving north and bringing severe flooding.

Thirteen people are missing from the storm, public broadcaster NHK said.

In central Nagano prefecture, water surrounded Japan's famous bullet trains while helicopters plucked stranded residents from rooftops.

A total of 27,000 military troops and other rescue crews have been deployed in relief operations, the government said.

In Kawagoe city, north of Tokyo, emergency crews used boats to help residents trapped in a nursing home.

Typhoon Hagibis set to wreck Ireland's quarter-finals hopes

A typhoon-watch warning has been issued for their final pool game against Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday night.

Typhoon Hagibis is developing off the south coast of Japan, and could bring heavy rain and high winds this weekend.

If the match is called off, the two sides would share the points, taking Ireland's quarter-final ambitions out of their hands.

Should Scotland beat Russia with a bonus point and follow that with victory over Japan, the Irish would miss the playoffs and a potential final-eight showdown with the All Blacks.