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Crashing waves on the beach in Kamakura, south of Tokyo in 2010 when Typhoon Chaba hit the mainland. AP/Press Association Images

Powerful typhoon hits Japan mainland

A 29-year-old man was swept away by high waves when Jelawat hit Okinawa and was later confirmed dead, while at least 140 people were injured.

POWERFUL TYPHOON JELAWAT made landfall today on the Japanese mainland a day after hitting southern Okinawa island, where local media said it left one dead and some 140 people injured.

Packing winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour, the typhoon made landfall in central Aichi prefecture at around 7pm local time (10.00 GMT) and was moving up the main island of Honshu, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

A 29-year-old man was swept away by high waves when Jelawat hit Okinawa and was later confirmed dead, while at least 140 people were injured in eight prefectures, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The typhoon is forecast to churn north-eastwards towards Tokyo over the next 24 hours and bring torrential rainfall and towering waves up to 10 metres high.

More than 500 flights, mainly in western Japan, were cancelled today and some shinkansen bullet train services across the country had been suspended, Kyodo said.

Local authorities have ordered more than 2,000 in central Mie to evacuate, while tens of thousands of people were advised to leave home for safe shelter, according to NHK.

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    Mute Alan T Duffy
    Favourite Alan T Duffy
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    Apr 1st 2016, 12:03 PM

    Why the hell are they putting a massive bridge down such a narrow street?

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    Mute P. ENNIS
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    Apr 1st 2016, 12:22 PM

    Its common practice now in congested areas of the world it simply gets rid of T – junctions Buy allowing traffic to flow over other crossing traffic.

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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
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    Apr 1st 2016, 1:53 PM

    Because they can.

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    Mute Awkward Seal
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    Apr 1st 2016, 2:03 PM

    The bigger question is why didn’t they close off the area during construction?!

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    Mute Dave Sherman
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    Apr 1st 2016, 2:57 PM

    Not this time.

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
    Favourite Martin Gallagher
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:10 PM

    It’s common practice for 3rd. world countries to put up these ‘jerry built’ constructions, like many of the shit housing developments here.

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    Mute Colm O'Leary
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    Apr 1st 2016, 6:08 PM

    The obvious fault is the crumby Steel that was used. It’s twisted and crumpled like paper. Probably the Steel workers were getting kickbacks…. The weight of the poured concrete was just too much.

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    Mute funkytown
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    Apr 1st 2016, 7:17 PM

    Insufficient falsework I’d say.

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    Mute Pat Gorman
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    Apr 1st 2016, 8:40 PM

    They should bring in the Chinese.
    The Chinese know how to build sturdy structures ever since they built the Great Wall.
    The Great Wall of China still stands proud even after thousands of years of earthquakes.
    .
    Dublin Cowboy Builders please take note.

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    Mute Gerry Purcell
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    Apr 2nd 2016, 3:12 AM

    I’ve been to India many times. I doubt there are any building regulations. If I want build a small extension in the uk there are hoops to jump through. It is checked by the council, I have to make changes, meet standards, resubmit plans etc…it’s frustrating but when you see stories like this perhaps those strict regulations are there for very good reason. Getting things done cheap might help rapid progress but it has consequences.

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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    Apr 2nd 2016, 1:47 AM

    “We completed nearly 70% without mishap” – gold stars all around so! Talk about a glass half full attitude.

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