Typhoon Jangmi hits Japan, forcing thousands to evacuate
Typhoon Jangmi struck the Japanese archipelago as the first typhoon of the season, leaving behind material damage and injuries, and forcing authorities to take emergency measures to protect residents. The typhoon, which weakened into a powerful tropical storm as it moved toward Tokyo, injured at least nine people on the island of Okinawa, cut power to approximately 50,000 homes, and disrupted hundreds of domestic and international flights.
The aftermath of Typhoon Jangmi and the urgent evacuation measures in Japan
Local authorities in Miyazaki City on the island of Kyushu urged nearly 390,000 residents to immediately evacuate their homes and head to shelters. On the island of Okinawa, local media broadcast footage showing severe storms that uprooted trees, some as tall as 10 meters, accompanied by torrential rain that flooded the streets.
According to local power companies, more than 30,000 homes in the southwestern Kagoshima region and another 17,000 homes in Okinawa were without power on Tuesday morning, making rescue and evacuation operations more difficult for residents in those affected areas.
Japan's history with tropical cyclones and climate change
Japan is one of the countries most vulnerable to tropical cyclones in East Asia due to its location on the Pacific Ocean. Historically, the Japanese archipelago experiences several typhoons and tropical storms annually between July and October. However, meteorologists indicate that global climate change has contributed to the increased intensity and destructive power of these storms, with rainfall becoming heavier and winds more violent. This places Japan's sophisticated infrastructure under constant and severe tests in its efforts to protect lives and public and private property.
Air traffic paralyzed and warnings continue for major cities
The storm's effects extended to the air and land transport sectors extensively, both domestically and internationally. Major Japanese airlines, such as All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, announced the cancellation of a total of 600 flights scheduled between Monday and Wednesday, causing significant disruption to travel and tourism and disrupting regional supply chains.
In Tokyo, which is expected to be affected by the storm on Wednesday, public transportation companies began broadcasting warning messages to citizens, urging them to be cautious and anticipating severe disruptions to train and bus services. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of the risk of mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and high waves, emphasizing the need for everyone to follow official instructions issued by disaster management centers to avoid further loss of life.
