Tropical Storm Chang Mi has hit southwestern Japan, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power. Airlines are canceling flights and reports of injuries are increasing.
A powerful tropical storm hit southwestern Japan on Tuesday, causing widespread power outages and disrupting air traffic. At least nine people were injured, the AFP news agency reported, citing TASR.
- A powerful tropical storm has hit southwestern Japan and caused extensive damage.
- Typhoon Chang-mi is moving north after hitting Okinawa island on Monday.
- More than forty-seven thousand collection points in two prefectures remained without electricity.
- At least nine people were injured by the storm’s strong winds.
- Japanese airlines have canceled approximately six hundred flights for three consecutive days.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of high waves, landslides and local flooding. Typhoon Chang-mi is moving north after making landfall on the island of Okinawa on Monday.
Without electricity
More than 17,000 households remained without electricity in Okinawa Prefecture on Tuesday morning. In Kagoshima prefecture, they reported another 30,000 points without power.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara announced that at least nine people were injured in the storm on Okinawa. According to the public broadcaster NHK, the injuries were mainly caused by objects carried by the strong wind and also by the falls of people who lost their balance due to strong gusts of wind.
Risk of transport interruptions
At the same time, Kihara warned that on Wednesday, the storm could cause disruptions in public transport in the affected regions and in other cities along its route. He urged residents in threatened areas to closely follow the instructions of local governments, including possible evacuation recommendations.
Air transport also experienced significant complications. Japan’s two largest airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, canceled a total of about 600 flights scheduled between Monday and Wednesday.
