Some cities near Tokyo to remain without power for two more weeks

Japan utility Tokyo Electric Power said on Friday some cities near Tokyo would remain without electricity two more weeks after a powerful typhoon hit the capital and surrounding regions this month.

Typhoon Faxi hit the area with destructive winds of up to 216 kph (134 mph) in the early hours of Monday, causing at least one death, damage, transport chaos and power outages. Tokyo Electric, Japan's biggest power provider, known as Tepco, had difficulties restoring its power supply system in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, as trees, power facilities and electricity poles were damaged severely.

"We believe it will take a very long time to repair and it will take about two weeks at most," a Tepco official told a news conference. The company said cities such as Tateyama and Kamogawa in Chiba prefecture would require two more weeks to restore electricity.

Some other cities such as Chiba and Ichihara in the prefecture are likely to have electricity within three days. About 170,000 households were without power in Chiba prefecture on Friday, Tepco said.