Typhoon Hagibis: Scare as over a mllion told to evacuate in Japan as powerful storm looms

More than a million people in Japan have been advised to leave their homes as heavy rain and strong winds pounded the country with a powerful typhoon looming.

A man in his forties has already been killed after his car overturned in a tornado east of Tokyo, while five others were injured as gales tore the roofs off a number of houses.

Typhoon Hagibis threatens to bring the heaviest rain and winds seen by Japan in 60 years and has triggered warnings of floods and landslides.

It comes after one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused extensive power cuts.

The latest storm has already led more than 16,000 households to lose power, while shops, factories and subways have been shut down as a precaution.

Organisers of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix have cancelled all practice and qualifying sessions, while two matches ofthe Rugby World Cup have also been scratched.

Japan's rugby team had to wade through high waters to get to their sodden pitch for practice, as their match against Scotland on Sunday could still go ahead if organisers believe it is safe.

More than 1,600 flights have been cancelled and train services suspended.

Some 17,000 police and military troops have been called up, standing ready for rescue operations, while dozens of evacuation centres have opened in coastal towns.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall near Tokyo later, dumping up to 50cm (20ins) of rain.

A typhoon that hit the Tokyo region in 1958 left more than 1,200 people dead and half a million houses flooded.