Japan: Authorities have issued warnings as a tropical storm called Typhoon Khanun approaches the southern regions of Japan and South Korea. Flights and train services have been cancelled after the typhoon triggered heavy rain and storm in the regions.
The storm is currently in the sea south of Kyushu, Japan’s main southwestern island, approximately 860 km (530 miles) away from Tokyo. It has caused significant damage in the southwestern Okinawa region. The storm’s strength remains unchanged, and it is moving at an unusually slow pace of 10 km/h (6mph). This slow movement will result in an extended period of wind and rain.
As heavy rainfall continued to batter Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, around 16,000 households were without electricity. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the region had already experienced the equivalent of a month’s worth of rainfall in just the past week.
The agency has issued heavy rain and high wind warnings to many parts of southern and western Japan, prompting automakers, including Toyota, to suspend some production.
Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Fumio Kishida has cancelled his attendance at a ceremony on 9th August 2023, to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in Kyushu. Due to the heavy rainfall, West Japan Railway temporarily halted certain bullet train services in Kyushu. Additionally, a professional baseball game that was planned in the area had to be cancelled.
Khanun’s impact in South Korea led the country to issue its highest alert level. This resulted in the cancellation of nearly 80 flights and the shutdown of numerous sea routes and roads.