FLOODED RIVERS IN MIYAZAKI PREFECTURE WITH BRIDGE COLLAPSED; REPAIR WORK IN PROGRESS; STRANDED PEOPLE IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.




Initials MM/VS/CR/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TYPHOON TESS WHICH HIT SOUTHERN JAPAN ON SATURDAY AND SWEPT ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST FOR FOUR DAYS, LEFT BEHIND A TRAIL OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

MORE THAN THIRTY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED KILLED AND HUNDREDS MAROONED BY FLOODS. LANDSLIDES AND FLOODS CUT 29 BRIDGES 35 ROADS AND 30 RAILWAY LINES.

TORRENTIAL RAIN AND 85 MPH WINDS SWEPT THE COASTLINE OF KYUSHU ISLAND. ALL MAIN RAILWAY TRANSPORT CAME TO A HALT AS THE RAILWAY BRIDGE NEAR NOBEOKA, IN MIYAZAKI PREFECTURE COLLAPSED INTO A FLOODED RIVER. PASSENGERS UNABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY STAYED IN THE TRAINS, SLEEPING AND EATING THERE WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE BRIDGE TO BE REPAIRED, OR ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE.

FLOOD WATERS AND LANDSLIDES DAMAGED RAILWAY LINES AT OTHER POINTS AND TWELVE PASSENGER TRAINS, INCLUDING FIVE EXPRESSES WERE STRANDED ALONG ONE STRETCH OF LINE.

IN OTHER PARTS OF MIYAZAKI PREFECTURE 350 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED MAROONED BY FLOOD WATERS.

THE WORST EFFECTS OF THE TYPHOON WERE OVER BY LATE TUESDAY MORNING BUT HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUED. TYPHOON TESS WAS REPORTED TO HAVE CHANGED DIRECTION AND TO BE HEADING TOWARDS MAINLAND CHINA.