Tornadoes Tear Across Northern Japan; Dozens Injured

September 3,2013

 

 

 

 

 

TOKYO  -- Tornadoes tore through eastern Japan on Monday, injuring dozens of people, at least one seriously, and destroying some buildings.
Police in Saitama prefecture, near Tokyo, said 63 people were reported injured. Details of their injuries were not immediately available.
Kyodo News reported that the tornadoes toppled power lines, blew roofs off homes and sent debris flying, smashing windows at an elementary school.
Six homes were totally destroyed in Saitama, while 83 were partially damaged, police said.
Tornadoes also struck other nearby areas, such as Chiba prefecture.
Japan averages about 20 tornadoes a year, according to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.
The Japanese word for tornado is tatsumaki, which means dragon whirls/sprialling dragons according to The Weather Channel's Tornado Expert Dr. Greg Forbes.
MORE: Japan Tornado Damage Photos

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Koshigaya, Japan

Getty Images

Elementary school children pass before wrecked houses caused by a tornado at Koshigaya city in Saitama prefecture, suburban Tokyo on September 3, 2013. A tornado ripped through parts of eastern Japan on September 2, injuring several dozen people, tearing off roofs and uprooting buildings. (Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images)