A powerful typhoon has slammed into western Japan, inundating the region's main international airport, blowing a tanker into a bridge, disrupting land and air travel and leaving thousands stranded. Local media reported that seven people died and more than 100 others were injured when Typhoon Jebi caused violent winds in the west of the country. The storm is the strongest to hit the country in 25 years.
A powerful earthquake has rocked the city of Sapporo in northern Japan just hours after large parts of the south of the country was battered by the biggest typhoon to hit in 25 years. The 6.6 magnitude quake hit the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early Thursday, triggering landslides, bringing down several houses, and killing eight persons. No tsunami warning was issued after the quake.