TOKYO—At least two rivers swollen by typhoon Lionrock have broken through embankments, flooding areas in northern Japan. Japanese broadcaster NHK, quoting Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism, says the embankments gave way before dawn on Wednesday on the northern island of Hokkaido. Authorities in the town of Minami-furano are reporting many people trapped in houses and shelters by flooding from the Sorachi river, NHK said. Aerial photos from Kyodo news service also showed serious flooding south of Hokkaido in Iwate prefecture on Honshu, Japan’s main island. Typhoon Lionrock slammed into northern Japan on Tuesday evening, hitting an area still recovering from the 2011 tsunami.

Source: thestar August 31, 2016 02:48 UTC