Typhoon Hagibis: Fijian Tells Of Night Of Terror
For six hours Joseph Sharma endured the full fury of Typhoon Hagibis in a dark room in Chiba, Japan
Monday 14 October 2019 | 10:37
Joseph Sharma hunkered down in his flat in Noda City for six hours as Typhoon Hagibis pounded Chiba prefecture in Japan on Saturday night.
The Fijian automotive engineer said: “This typhoon was worse and more frightening than the cyclones in Fiji.
“You see trees going down, vehicles flying around and power lines snapping, I’ve never seen anything like that.
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“And being far away from home, it was a scary experience, I don’t want to go through it again.”
Mr Sharma, 29, is based in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture.
He is there alone. His family lives in Wailekutu, Lami.
Chiba was one of the worst-hit prefectures. Last night Japanese authorities confirmed that at least 18 people have died, 13 are missing and at least 149 are injured.
Joseph Sharma, 29, wearing a protective helmet to protect himself from flying debris while checking the cars in the yard and surrounding in Noda City, Chiba, Japan on October 13, 2019.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with relevant ministers to mobilise resources.
He said that with respect to blackouts, water outage and suspension of transportation services, Government would exert all efforts for the earliest recovery.
Rescue operations were underway in central, eastern and northeastern regions that were hit by floods and landslides.
The Defence Ministry has mobilised some 27,000 Self-Defence Force personnel for rescue and relief operations across the country.
The storm’s heavy rains triggered deadly landslides and caused rivers to burst their banks.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
Feedback: jennis.naidu@fijisun.com.fj
