Tornado near Tokyo kills 1, injures dozens

Sun May 6th 2012

One person is dead and dozens are injured in Japan after a tornado in a city northeast of Tokyo destroyed scores of houses.

Firefighters and medical teams rushed to the area after the tornado struck about 40 miles from Tokyo. The city is a science center, with dozens of research and academic institutes, but the tornado appeared to be mostly in residential areas.

Officials say a 14-year-old boy died and more than 30 people were injured.

Public broadcaster NHK showed rows of houses without roofs, apartment complexes with smashed balconies and shattered windows, and tilting telephone poles that could barely stand.

It said about 200 homes were damaged.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said 24,000 homes were without electricity as lightning added to the storm's damage.

Tornadoes are relatively rare in the Tokyo area.