Japan orders evacuations as strong Typhoon approaches
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Loading... - Mila Braun
- 16 Aug 2024
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Japan has issued evacuation orders to thousands of residents and canceled numerous flights as Typhoon Ampil, described as a "very strong" storm, approaches the eastern region of the country. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that as of Friday afternoon, the typhoon was positioned approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) south of Choshi city in Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo.
Typhoon Ampil, currently moving over the Pacific Ocean, is expected to come close to the greater Tokyo area by later in the day. The JMA has warned of "fierce winds" capable of causing injuries from flying debris and potentially overturning moving trucks. The typhoon is packing wind speeds of 45 meters per second with gusts reaching up to 60 meters per second (216 kph/134 mph).
In response to the storm's approach, several municipalities in the Kanto region and surrounding areas have urged residents to evacuate. In Fukushima prefecture, Iwaki city issued an evacuation order affecting around 323,000 people. Mobara city in Chiba, east of Tokyo, ordered about 18,500 residents to evacuate. Many other cities have opened special evacuation centers and advised residents to voluntarily evacuate as a precaution.
The typhoon has also caused power outages, with over 2,500 households in the Kanto area still without electricity, according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
Air travel has been significantly disrupted, with dozens of flights canceled at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports, as well as at Kansai, Osaka, and Chubu airports, affecting both departures and arrivals.
