TOKYO: Japan’s weather agency yesterday issued its highest alert as typhoon Halong barrelled toward southwestern Japan, warning of heavy rains and strong winds from a storm that has grounded more than 470 flights.
The warning means that the storm poses a threat to life and could inflict massive damage from torrential rain and strong winds, the meteorological agency said.
The alert was issued for the Mie prefecture, some 300 kilometres west of Tokyo, as the outer bands of the storm was already lashing the region and other areas of southwestern Japan, the agency said.
“Please remain on the alert against a rise of rivers, floods as well as damage from landslides in Mie prefecture,” the agency said on its website.
Typhoon Halong, packing winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour, could make landfall in southwest Japan late yesterday or early today, according to the agency.
Television footage showed high waves triggered by the typhoon splashing over breakwaters and muddy torrents roaring down a swollen river.
Storms and torrential rain earlier this week have left one dead and four injured, public broadcaster NHK said.
At least 473 flights were cancelled due to the typhoon, which came as Japan had just begun its annual “Obon” summer holiday, NHK said.
Over the next 24 hours, the storm was expected to dump 70 centimetres of rain on the southwest island of Shikoku.
AFP
