Typhoon Ampil in Japan: Hundreds of flights canceled, tens of thousands of people evacuated
Photo: Japanese rescuers (Getty Images)
Japan faces the first serious consequences of powerful typhoon Ampil, which is affecting the eastern part of the country. In response, hundreds of flights have been canceled, and tens of thousands of people have been temporarily evacuated, according to Reuters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the typhoon as "very strong" and "violent."
Today, Ampil reached the Pacific coast of Japan’s main island around 3:00 PM local time (9:00 AM Kyiv time). The agency warned of possible strong winds in the Kanto region, including Tokyo. Wind speeds reach 45 meters per second, with maximum gusts up to 60 meters per second (216 km/h).
The city government of Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture ordered the evacuation of about 323,000 residents. In Mobara in Chiba Prefecture, a similar order was issued for 18,500 people. Dozens of other cities have also opened special evacuation centers and recommended voluntary evacuation.
The typhoon left more than 2,500 households in the Kanto region without power. Major airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines canceled more than 600 flights, affecting the plans of nearly 120,000 passengers.
It was also reported that all Shinkansen high-speed train services between Tokyo and Nagoya were canceled. Additionally, many restaurants, department stores, and amusement parks, including Tokyo Disneyland, closed or shortened their operating hours.
It is worth noting that typhoons are a frequent meteorological phenomenon in Japan, particularly in the summer or early autumn.
In 2019, the country experienced one of the largest typhoons, Hagibis, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and residential buildings.
RBC-Ukraine reported that northern Japan was recently hit by Tropical Typhoon Maria, which paralyzed air and rail traffic. Additionally, due to a recent earthquake, the country’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, canceled his trip to Asian countries.
