THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
May 3, 2021 at 16:21 JST
MAKINOHARA, Shizuoka Prefecture--Authorities surveying damage from a May 1 tornado said the rare storm left 97 structures partially damaged or destroyed in this city and nearby municipalities.
Three residents of Makinohara, the hardest hit city, were injured by flying glass.
The Japan Meteorological Agency estimated the tornado's instantaneous wind velocity at 198 kph, making it the fourth strongest on the six-stage Japanese scale.
In Makinohara, 91 buildings were affected, of which three destroyed, including a warehouse, according to city and prefectural officials. Sixty-three buildings were partially damaged, including 35 homes.
Officials are assessing the remaining 25 buildings to determine the extent of damage.
The tornado that struck in the evening of May 1 also toppled 16 utility poles and swept away 12 plastic greenhouses in the city. A tea garden covering 15.5 hectares was also littered with flying debris.
In neighboring Kikugawa, six buildings were damaged.
Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu inspected the affected area on May 2.
“We will work hard to achieve a quick recovery by making use of all relief programs available,” he said.
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A building stripped of its roof, while a vehicle lies overturned in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture, on May 2 (Takayuki Kakuno)
