TOKYO, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Typhoon Chaba struck Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido early Tuesday with 70 mph winds, leaving in its wake nine people dead and six missing.
At 2 p.m. local time Tuesday, the storm was located near Tomakomai in southern Hokkaido. It was moving northeast at 40 mph and packing winds of up to 70 mph, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
At least 220 people have been injured so far in the storm, the Kyodo news service said..
By noon Tuesday, the meteorological agency predicted rainfall of up to 8 inches in the Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido, and up to 5 inches in the Tohoku region, and Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan coastal areas of Hokkaido.
The agency forecast downpours of more than 2 inches an hour in some areas, and warned of possible landslides, high tides and strong winds.
The typhoon so far has flooded out more than 9,000 houses, mainly in the western Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
