Super Typhoon Hagibis has wrecked the Rugby World Cup schedule in Japan, with its latest wind speeds reported as 161 mph (259 km/hr) - equivalent to a category 5 hurricane.
Catastrophe risk modelling firm RMS said Hagibis is located over open waters 752 miles south of the central Japanese city of Yokosuka and is moving to the north of the country at 12.4 mph. The storm passed north of the Mariana Islands between Monday and Tuesday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has reported maximum sustained wind speeds of 129 mph (208 km/hr), equivalent to a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. However, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported higher wind speeds of 161 mph (259 km/hr).
Hagibis is forecast to weaken over the next few days and make landfall, or pass close to the southern coast of Japan, this Saturday, according to RMS.
Rugby schedule chaos
Rugby World Cup matches in Japan scheduled for this Saturday have already been called off including England versus France and New Zealand’s clash with Italy.
Scotland’s match against Japan on Sunday could also be cancelled with a final decision expected six hours before kick-off.
So far, the power supply on the island of Saipan has been interrupted while RMS, citing news reports, added the main damage appears to be fallen trees and branches, as well as flooding of roads with poor drainage. Nippon Airways also expects to cancel all flights on 12 October.
Large parts of Japan are still recovering from the impact of typhoon Faxai which struck Tokyo on 9 September with strength equivalent to a category 2 hurricane at landfall.
Faxai moved across the main island of Honshu, killing three people. Insured losses from Faxai have been predicted to reach $9bn.