Two killed as storm lashes central Japan

Talas, the 15th named storm of the season, lashed Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday, bringing heavy rains and killing two, and leaving tens of thousands of households without power, Kyodo News said, Report informs.

The city of Shizuoka was hit particularly hard, with a record 417 mm of precipitation falling since the rain started Thursday, the Meteorological Agency said.

Winds at the storm's center were blowing at about 65 kph, with peak gusts of about 90 kph.

Local media reported that a man in his 40s died after his house was hit by a landslide in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. A 29-year-old man was found dead after his car plunged into a reservoir.

Yokohama also issued an evacuation advisory at about noon on Saturday to about 3,000 residents.

Japan is currently in its typhoon season, with storms often bringing heavy rains that cause flash floods or landslides.

Last weekend, four people were killed and 151 injured after Typhoon Nanmadol slammed into Kyushu.

Scientists say climate change is increasing the severity of storms and causing extreme weather such as heat waves, droughts, and flash floods to become more frequent and intense.