Japan on alert on the eve of the arrival of the powerful Typhoon Hagibis

The Japan Weather Agency (JMA) Friday considered its cyclonic intensity "very strong", barely a step up from the maximum level in which it was previously ranked. Gusts of wind up to 216 km / h were announced for Saturday night, when Hagibis will reach the shores of central and eastern Japan, including the very densely populated area of ​​Tokyo.

The weather agency was expecting "brutal winds and violent sea", as well as record rainfall in some areas, including 50 cm in 24 hours in the Tokyo area and up to 80 cm in the center. from the country.

"To protect your lives"

"We ask you to take precautionary measures" before the arrival of the typhoon, "to protect your life and those of your loved ones," said a JMA official at the press concerned. Torrential rainfall is expected, up to half a meter of water in Tokyo, and in central Tokai.

Authorities also fear flooding in coastal areas. They advised nearly 30,000 residents of the eastern archipelago to evacuate their homes.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged companies based in the capital to let their employees go home earlier "as a security measure".

In early September, the Tokyo area had already been affected by a powerful typhoon, Faxai, with gusts exceeding 200 km / h. Faxai had caused at least two deaths and more than a hundred injuries, and damaged tens of thousands of homes and many electrical infrastructure.

Rugby: 2 World Cup games canceled

Two matches scheduled for Saturday in the context of the Rugby World Cup, currently held in Japan, were also canceled on Thursday: France / England in Yokohama (suburb of Tokyo) and New Zealand / Italy to Toyota City ( center of the country), meetings that were to attract nearly 115,000 spectators.

Many supporters have not concealed their disappointment, while the captain of the Italian team, Sergio Parisse, was indignant, saying that the match of his team against New Zealand would have been maintained if the All Blacks had still needed a win to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The typhoon also threatened Sunday's meeting in Yokohama between the Japanese and the Scots, who would be eliminated from the tournament like Italy if the match did not take place. A final decision on this key match was not expected until Sunday morning.