Typhoon Lan caused the cancellation of nearly 800 flights in Japan, in addition to cutting power to tens of thousands of homes on Tuesday (14/8) morning. The disaster also prompted authorities to issue flood and landslide warnings.
Approaching the Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Lan made landfall in the southern tip of Wakayama prefecture, about 400 km southwest of Tokyo. Japanese television footage showed rivers flowing swiftly and on the verge of overflowing.
Homes and shops suffered floor damage from the water, and in the city of Nara, strong winds have toppled scaffolding at a construction site. Japan Airlines Co canceled more than 250 flights, impacting 25,800 passengers.
Meanwhile ANA Holdings canceled 310 flights on Tuesday, which it said would impact 24,600 passengers.The typhoon, which followed Typhoon Khanun during the peak of the Obon holiday season, hit large parts of central and western Japan with torrential rains and strong winds.
The power outage hit nearly 90,000 households in central and western Japan, according to regional utilities. Seven & i said around 210 7-Eleven convenience store outlets were closed to ensure safety.
Dangerous levels of rain and wind forced the closure of roads and dozens of rail lines to suspend services in the area. Over the next 24 hours, the central Tokai region, home to Toyota Motor, is expected to receive around 350mm of rain, nearly three times the average rainfall in August.
Many factories close during the Obon holiday, when townspeople return to their ancestral homes. Typhoon Lan had winds of 150 km/h and was moving northwest across the western part of the main island of Honshu at about 15 km per hour.
The typhoon is expected to reach the Sea of Japan by Wednesday morning, and continue north along the sea, according to Japan’s weather agency. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings to residents in various areas.
