TOKYO: A powerful tropical storm, downgraded from a typhoon, has struck western Japan, prompting urgent evacuation advisories for over 180,000 residents, as rivers swell, landslide warnings emerge, and heavy rainfall inundates the region.
Tropical Storm Lan made its entrance from the Pacific Ocean at approximately 5 am (2000 GMT Monday), unleashing its forceful winds and drenching rain on the major urban centers of Osaka and Kobe as it moved northward.
In response to the intensifying conditions, Tottori city, located along the Sea of Japan, issued a top-level evacuation warning to approximately 182,000 residents later in the day. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning of “unprecedented” heavy rainfall in the area, emphasizing the urgency for personal safety and security.
Satoshi Sugimoto from the Japan Meteorological Agency emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Lives are in danger. The residents are in a situation where immediate personal security needs to be ensured.” He urged people in the region to seek shelter on higher ground to mitigate the risk of flooding.
Thousands of Households Without Power in Japan
While most of the electricity supply was restored, 9,200 households remained without power by Tuesday evening. The storm’s impact was evident as part of a pedestrian bridge was swept away in Kyoto, and debris flying in the strong winds disrupted local commuter trains.
The storm’s force led to the suspension of express bullet trains as planned, and numerous flights were canceled, including 240 Japan Airline services and 313 flights operated by rival ANA, particularly those serving Osaka.
Kansai airport, situated on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, saw around 650 individuals forced to spend the night due to cut-off rail and road access caused by the storm’s impact, as reported by Kyodo News.
The weather system was projected to continue its sweep over the region throughout Tuesday before moving further into the Sea of Japan and progressing along the coast, passing Vladivostok and the Russian Far East.
