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Teen dead, dozens injured after tornado strike near Japan’s capital

TSUKUBA, Japan — A teenager was killed and 40 people injured Sunday when rare tornadoes tore through eastern Japan near the capital Tokyo, damaging as many as 500 homes.

The roofs of a supermarket and gas station in Tsukuba, 40 miles (60km) northeast of Tokyo, were torn off after a twister struck at around 2:00pm local time, The Mainichi Shimbun reported.

The fire department said roofs were also blown off residential buildings, showering the streets below with broken glass.

A spokesman for the Tsukuba disaster headquarters confirmed a 14-year-old died after he was taken to the hospital.

Japan’s Kyodo News put the number of injured at 40, including two seriously.

The storm also caused damage from lightning strikes and bullet train services were disrupted.

Another twister was reported in Tochigi prefecture, which borders Ibaraki prefecture where Tsukuba is located.

One Tsukuba man told national broadcaster NHK, “You could see the roaring column of wind rushing with sparks from live power lines inside it.”

TV footage showed houses torn from their foundations, overturned cars and muddy debris in the city.

A tornado watch was in place for Ibaraki prefecture and nearly 20,000 homes were without power.