Japan braces itself for the approaching super typhoon Nanmadol. Authorities in the southwest of the country have called on more than four million residents to evacuate. The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Sunday evening.
Japan’s weather agency has issued a “special warning” for the Kagoshima and Miyazaki regions of Kyushu Island. That’s rare, because the agency only does this when it anticipates weather conditions that only happen once in several decades. There is a warning of the possibility of “unparalleled danger” from high winds, storm surges and torrential rain.
台風14号が接近しています。テレビやラジオ、官邸や気象庁などの公的機関のサイトやTwitter等で最新情報を得ながら、最大級の警戒をしてください。 https://t.co/aceARrfQpP
— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 17, 2022
The weather service says there is a chance of a record amount of rain, which could cause rivers to flood and landslides. In the south of Kyushu, up to 500 millimetres of rain can fall. Wind gusts can reach up to 250 kilometres per hour. “Please stay away from dangerous places and evacuate if you have the slightest idea that you are in danger,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrote on Twitter. “It will be dangerous to evacuate at night. Please move to a safe location while it is still light outside.”
Typhoon Nanmadol hit the island of Kyushu. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the maximum wind speed (maximum instantaneous wind speed) will be 50 meters per second (70 meters per second).
Precipitation is expected to be around 500 mm. #Japan#台風14号 #台風 #Nanmadol pic.twitter.com/PptaYeVuVT— BRAVE SPIRIT (@Brave_spirit81) September 18, 2022
On Sunday morning, part of the country was already dealing with heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Several cities are without electricity. Train journeys, flights and ferry crossings have been cancelled. Many shops and supermarkets have closed their doors.
The eye of the typhoon is 1,000 kilometers from Tokyo, but this is the Meguro river right now. #Typhoon #Nanmadol pic.twitter.com/ZRuPZBDEUj
— Andy Sharp (@sharp_writing) September 18, 2022
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