Japan’s south-western islands on high alert as powerful Typhoon Bavi approaches

ISHIGAKI, Japan – A large and powerful typhoon approached a remote chain of islands in Japan’s south-west on July 10, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides and flooding in what could be the region’s most destructive storm in years.

Typhoon Bavi is expected to pass very close to Japan’s Sakishima Islands – a remote chain of islands near Taiwan that is part of Okinawa Prefecture – early on July 11, according to meteorological authorities.

Maximum sustained winds were topping out at 162kmh, and local residents on Ishigaki, one of the islands in the chain, were taping up windows and draping windproof nets across homes and shops.

Airlines cancelled dozens of flights in the region.

Japan Airlines said it had cancelled more than 100 flights for July 10 and 11, affecting nearly 20,000 passengers. Rival carrier All Nippon Airways cancelled more than 160 flights through July 12, disrupting travel for roughly 20,000 people.

Nearly 900 buildings in Okinawa Prefecture were without power as at 6am Greenwich Mean Time (2pm in Singapore).

On Ishigaki, a popular tourist destination, residents stocked up on supplies, emptying shelves of instant noodles at a local supermarket. Some public beaches, coastal parks and the local ferry terminal appeared closed.

“I heard that this one will be pretty big,” said Hiroshi Nomura, as he strung windproof nets across his bicycle rental store. “I’m a little concerned about whether our typhoon preparations are enough.”

At the supermarket, local resident Eiken Ishigaki filled his shopping basket with snacks and beer, concerned about potential power outages and expecting to be stuck at home on the night of July 10 and 11.

Kazuo Akaishi, a tourist from Ibaraki Prefecture north-east of Tokyo, was waiting at the ferry terminal, hoping to leave for a nearby island. But he had been forced to extend his stay on Ishigaki, as all services for July 10 and 11 appeared to have been cancelled.

“I’ve never experienced a direct hit like this. I’ve been here when typhoons passed nearby, but nothing this severe,” said the 47-year-old tourist.

Taiwan readies for deluge of rain

In neighbouring Taiwan, financial markets closed for the day, with a large swathe of the north and east also off work. The Taipei government set up stations for residents to collect sandbags.

Bavi is not expected to make landfall in Taiwan but will dump huge amounts of rain on the island – some areas could see up to 1m of rain – starting from late on July 10.

The government said more than 2,000 people have been evacuated, mainly from the mountainous eastern coast, and nearly 29,000 military personnel were on standby to help relief efforts.

“Although the typhoon has weakened slightly and has been downgraded to a moderate typhoon, its storm radius is large and it may still bring strong winds and heavy rain to many areas,” Taiwan President Lai Ching-te wrote on his Facebook page.

Taiwanese airlines cancelled all of their flights on July 11 from the main international airport at Taoyuan outside Taipei.

Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, also cancelled weekend flights between Hong Kong and Taiwan and some to the eastern Chinese coastal cities of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Fuzhou.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said it would delay the scheduled release of its June sales data from July 10 to 13.

Bavi is forecast to make landfall late on July 11 or early July 12 around the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou, home to 10 million people.

“All of the boats from the nearby villages have returned to the harbour,” said Wenzhou fisherman Ye, 57, who had hauled his boat ashore and was repairing it.

“Everyone is getting ready for the typhoon.” REUTERS