Title: Typhoon Lan Hits Japan, Triggers Evacuations and Flight Cancellations
Subtitle: Heavy rain, powerful winds cause chaos across central and western Japan
TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) – Typhoon Lan made landfall on Tuesday at the southern tip of Wakayama prefecture in Japan, leading to the cancellation of nearly 900 flights and forcing 240,000 people to evacuate. The slow-moving typhoon crossed Japan’s main island of Honshu, causing widespread power outages and disrupting transportation.
Approaching from the Pacific Ocean, Typhoon Lan brought heavy rain and powerful winds to a wide area in central and western Japan. Rivers swelled, reaching the top of their banks, and several bridges were partially destroyed. Although tornadoes were formed in some regions, they did not cause significant damage.
As the storm weakened to tropical storm strength, it moved towards the Sea of Japan, but forecasters warned that concentrated rains were still possible across a wide area. The slow movement of the typhoon raised concerns about the potential for flooding as certain areas experienced continuous rainfall. In fact, parts of central Japan recorded an alarming 585 mm (23 inches) of rain in the span of just 24 hours.
While the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, over two dozen people have already been reported injured, with one person in serious condition. To ensure the safety of residents across 11 prefectures, authorities have set up evacuation centers in safe buildings and elevated locations, as directed by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Apart from the evacuation efforts, the dangerous weather conditions have resulted in the closure of roads and the suspension of dozens of train services. However, as of Tuesday evening, some roads were reopening.
It is worth noting that Typhoon Lan struck during Japan’s peak Obon holiday season, a time when many factories shut down, and city-dwellers return to their hometowns and villages. The storm comes just days after Typhoon Khanun hit the country, compounding the impact on the affected regions.
As a result of the typhoon, nearly 90,000 households experienced power outages in central and western areas. Seven & i, the parent company of 7-Eleven convenience stores, announced that about 210 stores were temporarily closed for safety reasons.
The authorities and utility companies are working tirelessly to restore normalcy, but the full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Lan is yet to be determined.
Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Satoshi Sugiyama, and Elaine Lies; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln Feast, and Bernadette Baum