Tokyo: At least 55 people were killed and over 300 injured in the worst-ever storm that lashed Japan in more than a decade triggering flash floods and mudslides before it moved to the East into the Pacific Ocean this morning (Oct 21, 2004).

Many areas across Japan were hit by torrential rain and strong rains from Typhoon Tokage, which is the Japanese name for the constellation Lacerta or Lizard.

It destroyed houses and other structures, derailed trains and disrupted transportation services across the country, Japanese media reports said.

Airlines cancelled a total of 119 domestic flights today morning affecting 25,000 travellers, airline officials were quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

Bullet trains were also suspended due to heavy rains triggered by the typhoon but later resumed services.

Television showed powerful gusts uprooting huge trees, entire hillsides crumbling away in landslides across southern and central Japan. Cars were stranded in flash floods and delivery trucks lay on their sides.

The number of casualties is the worst in 10 years, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has ordered an immediate dispatch of a Government fact-finding team when he met Yoshitaka Murata, State Minister in charge of Disaster Management.