Japanese authorities have ordered approximately 260,000 residents to evacuate to safety as powerful Typhoon No. 13 approaches the country’s southwestern region. Meanwhile, more than 500 flights were cancelled on Friday due to adverse weather conditions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that this Category 1 typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching up to 198 kilometers per hour. It is moving towards the island chain situated between the Kyushu region and Okinawa Prefecture. The typhoon is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, and rough seas.
Evacuation orders have been issued for about 260,000 residents across Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Additionally, as a safety precaution, Toyota—Japan’s leading automaker—temporarily suspended production operations at nine of its factories on Friday.
The weather agency warned that the typhoon could maintain its strength as it moves towards Okinawa. This could result in winds intense enough to damage or collapse buildings and other structures. Furthermore, the formation of “linear rainbands”—narrow zones of extremely heavy rain and thunderstorms—could increase the risk of flash floods.
Meanwhile, the impact of this massive storm is already being felt across vast areas of Kyushu, the main island in southern Japan. Kumamoto Prefecture, in particular, has yet to recover from the damage caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake last week; approximately 6,700 people remain in shelters following the collapse of numerous homes during that quake.
In addition to the storm, the JMA has issued warnings regarding the risk of heatstroke, as temperatures in some areas are expected to reach up to 36 degrees Celsius.
