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Typhoon to Bring 2 Feet of Rain, Strong Winds to Tokyo

Associated Press

   TOKYO - A powerful typhoon was forecast to bring 2 feet of rain and
   damaging winds to the Tokyo area this weekend, and Japan's government
   warned people Friday to stockpile supplies and evacuate before it's too
   dangerous.

   The Rugby World Cup and other events were canceled for Saturday, and
   flights and train services halted.

   "In order to protect your own life and your loved ones, please try to
   start evacuating early before it gets dark and the storm becomes
   powerful," Meteorological Agency forecast department chief Yasushi
   Kajihara told a news conference.

   Kajihara said Typhoon Hagibis resembled a typhoon that hit the Tokyo
   region in 1958 with heavy rains and left a half-million houses flooded.
   More than 1,200 people died in that storm.

   Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet is to hold a disaster management
   meeting later Friday.

   "The government is doing the utmost to prepare for the approaching
   typhoon," disaster management minister Ryota Takeda told reporters, and
   urged people to prepare early and obtain food and water.

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