Tropical Storm Lan Slams Japan Main Island, Causing Rivers to Surge and Landslide Warnings
Key Highlights :
On Tuesday morning, the main island of Japan was slammed by a tropical storm that brought violent gusts and downpours. This storm, named Lan, has already caused rivers to surge and prompted landslide warnings. Although it was downgraded from a typhoon, Lan still roared in from the Pacific, heading for the commercial hubs of Osaka and Kobe while packing gusts up to 144 kilometers (90 miles) per hour along with torrential rain and high waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that Lan made landfall on the main island of Honshu shortly before 5 am (2000 GMT) in Wakayama prefecture, about 600 kilometers (375 miles) west of Tokyo. The agency also warned that some areas could expect as much as 35 centimeters of rain in the next 24 hours.
“The typhoon's speed is slow and the duration of its impact in (central and western regions) could become extended. The total rainfall (in some areas) may exceed the average monthly rainfall in August,” the weather agency tweeted.
The JMA also issued a warning for numerous areas, urging residents to “exercise extreme caution against landslides, surging water in low-lying areas, swollen and flooded rivers and violent winds.”
The storm also caused disruption to transportation services. At least 50,000 households in seven regions had lost power as of Tuesday morning, according to a local utility. Flying debris stopped local commuter trains, while flights and express trains were suspended as planned. Japan Airlines canceled 240 flights, particularly those serving the western hub of Osaka. Its rival ANA canceled 313 flights.
Local governments issued non-compulsory evacuation instructions to more than 180,000 residents, especially in Wakayama, Kyoto and the ancient capital of Nara. The weather system was set to spend all of Tuesday sweeping over the region, before moving out to the Sea of Japan.
The storm is expected to cause significant damage to the region, and residents are advised to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. It is important to stay informed of the latest weather updates and to follow the instructions of local authorities.
