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NAGOYA, Japan—Insured damage from Typhoon Melor, which left at least five dead in central Japan and injured more than 100, is expected to total $850 million to $1.5 billion, catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide Corp. estimated.
The typhoon came ashore in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture early Thursday as a Category 1 storm with winds around 74 mph, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Up to 12 inches of rain in some areas cut off electricity and blew off roof tiles, Boston-based AIR said in a statement.
AIR said its insured damage estimate reflects onshore losses to commercial and residential property, as well as contents.
Melor’s winds, which weakened before reaching shore, were blunted somewhat by good residential and commercial construction, AIR said.
“In the regions most affected by Typhoon Melor, wood frame homes dominate residential construction,” Peter Sousounis, principal scientist at AIR, said in a statement. Many of those homes are roofed with heavy tiles that help prevent wind damage and are expected to have little to no damage, he said.
Commercial properties in the region are primarily reinforced concrete or steel construction, and should have only minor damage to roofs and siding, with “minor to moderate damage to decorative elements and signage,” said Mr. Sousounis.