Typhoon Ampil seen to approach Tokyo, flights cancelled
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Typhoon Ampil is expected to hit Japan’s Kanto region over the weekend, overlapping with the nation’s Bon holiday.
PHOTO: AFP
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TOKYO – Severe tropical storm Ampil is expected to intensify into a typhoon as it nears eastern Japan on Aug 16, forcing cancellations of public transit services during the country’s holiday travel rush.
The seventh typhoon of 2024, moving northwards, is expected to hit Japan’s Kanto region over the weekend, overlapping with the nation’s Bon holiday. It will be at its closest around midday on Aug 16, according to weather forecasters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has forecast up to 200mm of rainfall in the Kanto-Koshin region by Aug 17 morning. The Kanto area could experience wind gusts up to 60m per second on Aug 16.
As the storm approaches Tokyo and its surrounding areas, all Tokaido Shinkansen services between Tokyo and Nagoya will be cancelled on Aug 16, announced Central Japan Railway Company, the operator of Japan’s Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train, on Aug 14. Operations between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya will also be reduced.
The company said it may also cancel services for the Sanyo Shinkansen line, which directly connects to the Tokaido line in Osaka.
East Japan Railway Company also noted possible delays and cancellations of services for the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Akita, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines from around noon to late evening on Aug 16.
As at Aug 14 evening, several flights to and from Haneda and Narita airports on Aug 16 have been cancelled.
Airlines are preparing for more potential flight cancellations or delays, and highway restrictions, including road closures, may be implemented.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) said it will cancel 280 domestic flights, affecting about 60,400 passengers scheduled to fly to areas including Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Japan’s largest air carrier also cancelled two flights on the evening of Aug 15.
Ampil is also likely to impact international routes, ANA and Japan Airlines (JAL) said, adding they will provide updated information. JAL will also cancel domestic flights.
The JMA urged for caution against high waves, landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and rising or overflowing rivers in eastern Japan. Travellers are advised to stay updated with the latest information as the typhoon approaches.
Disruptions from tropical storms this time of year has become an annual occurrence in Japan and other countries in the region. They are also more severe, causing factories to halt production and companies telling employees to stay at home. XINHUA, BLOOMBERG
