Strong cyclone slams into India's east coast

As typhoon hits southern Japan, govt tells 150,000 people to evacuate

A powerful cyclone was lashing a large swath of India's eastern seaboard with heavy rain and strong winds on Sunday, uprooting trees, snapping power cables and killing at least six people, in one of two storms pounding Asia.

In Japan, at least 35 people were reported injured as Typhoon Vongfong, packing winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour and heavy rain, hit the southern island of Okinawa and was aiming at the next island of Kyushu, where authorities told 150,000 people to evacuate.

Cyclone Hudhud had winds of 195 kph when the edge of the storm hit land after sweeping through the Bay of Bengal, Chief Staff Officer of India's Eastern Naval Command Rear Admiral S.K. Grewal told reporters. The cyclone's wind speed dipped to about 160 kph, but was expected to pick up again later on Sunday, he said.

At least 400,000 people were evacuated from the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states, and hundreds of shelters were set up to house them.

Experts said the storm was likely to cause widespread devastation along nearly 300 km of India's coast. Television footage from Visakhapatnam showed downed electrical poles, uprooted trees and debris strewn in the streets.

Electricity lines were disconnected in parts of Andhra Pradesh to avoid electrocutions, said Arvind Kumar, a relief and rescue official.

Hot spot

Four districts in Andhra Pradesh that are home to more than 14 million people - Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari - were likely to be worst hit, including about 350 coastal villages.

At least six people were killed in the cyclone. One person died when a wall collapsed in Visakhapatnam, and another when a tree toppled in Srikakulam.

India's meteorological department said on Sunday afternoon that the cyclone would weaken over the next 12 hours, with wind speeds gradually decreasing. But heavy rain was expected to lash Andhra Pradesh and Orissa for three more days.

The Indian Ocean is a cyclone hot spot. Of the 35 deadliest storms in recorded history, 27 have come through the Bay of Bengal - and have landed in either India or Bangladesh.

Japan's meteorological agency said Typhoon Vongfong could reach the Tokyo area by Tuesday, gradually losing strength as it moves up the archipelago. Authorities issued landslide warnings, and strong winds knocked out power lines, temporarily halting bullet train service for several hours on Kyushu.

The US military on Okinawa, where last week's typhoon killed three US airmen who were washed out to sea, instructed personnel and their families to remain indoors Sunday until strong winds and rain subsided.

AP - Reuters - Xinhua