Typhoon Hagibis death toll rises to 74 in Japan

Typhoon Hagibis, which swept across central and eastern Japan on Saturday and Sunday, has claimed at least 74 lives in Japan as of Tuesday as rescuers raced against the clock to locate more than 12 missing people.

Residents clean their flood-damaged home in Nagano on October 15, 2019, after Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan on October 12 unleashing high winds, torrential rain and triggered landslides and catastrophic flooding. [Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi]

In addition, 218 others were injured during the weekend storm, according to the latest NHK tally.

A total of 146 mudslides were reported in 19 of Japan's 47 prefectures, while about 10,000 homes had been hit by muddy floodwater, said government officials.

A vehicle carrying house wreckage drives through a muddy area from recent flooding caused by Typhoon Hagibis in Nagano on October 15, 2019, after the storm hit Japan on October 12 unleashing high winds, torrential rain and triggered landslides and catastrophic flooding. [Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi]

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and other government agencies, collapsed embankments at 73 locations along 52 rivers had been confirmed. However, the full extent of damage from Typhoon Hagibis remained unclear as some areas could not be reached due to very high water levels.