Super typhoon on track to drench Japan’s main island

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is bracing for a super typhoon on track to hit central and eastern regions over the three-day weekend, with sport events and domestic flights cancelled and sandbags given away to minimise potential damage from torrential rains and strong winds.

Typhoon Hagibis has already caused cancellations of two Rugby World Cup matches that were to be played Saturday.

Organisers cancelled the England-France match planned in Yokohama, near Tokyo, and New Zealand-Italy game in Toyota, in central Japan.

Organisers also called off a marathon in Sendai and other northern coastal towns.

Formula One auto racing in Suzuka in central Japan may also be affected.

Japan’s Defence Ministry scrapped the first two days of the annual October 12-14 navy review.

Hagibis, which means speed in Filipino, had maximum sustained winds of up to 168 miles and stronger gusts at noon Thursday near Chichi island in the Pacific, about 620 miles off Tokyo’s southern coast.

It was moving north at the speed of 2 miles per hour and is expected to weaken over cooler waters as it nears Japan’s main island.

It’s the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says the typhoon is forecast to hit ashore in the Tokyo area late Saturday and urged people to take precautions to avoid potentially life-threatening danger.

Japan’s central Pacific coast may see torrential rains beginning Friday while high waves and tides may cause flooding.

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