Millions evacuate as super-typhoon hits Japan

Typhoon Nanmadol has hit the southwestern coast of Japan, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Nearly 4 million people were ordered to evacuate as the typhoon hit near Kagoshima city on Sunday.

Nanmadol is expected to head east, reaching Tokyo on Tuesday.

Countrywide shutdown

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), upon landing, the typhoon packed maximum surface winds of 162km/h. Nanmadol has also caused electricity blackouts and benumbed ground and air transportation. No major damages or injuries or deaths have been reported at the time of this article.

Hundreds of domestic flights were cancelled, with many more set to be grounded in Japan through Tuesday as the storm heads northeast. “There are risks of unprecedented storms, high waves, storm surges, and record rainfall,” said the head of the JMA, “it’s a very dangerous typhoon.”

The Agency also issued warnings to affected areas of flooding, landslides and unrivalled levels of powerful winds – urging citizens to evacuate early.

A popular convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, shut down 950 outlets. And Toyota Motor Corp said that it will idle production at three of its factories.

The Kyushu Electric Power Co reported that more than 93,000 homes across the island were without electricity due to damages to power lines and facilities.

In the heavily knocked Kagoshima prefecture, over 9000 residents found shelter at evacuation centres on Sunday . In a neighbouring region, another 4700 people have evacuated.

A local Japanese broadcaster showed a pachinko pinball parlour with parts of its glass smashed by wind gusts in Kagoshima. Elsewhere, an elderly woman sustained a minor injury as she fell.

Forecasted typhoon movement

The typhoon is expected to move east and pass over Japan’s main island early next week. It will then move out to sea by Wednesday. Nanmadol has been named as a super-typhoon, meaning that it has the potential to be the most destructive tropical storm to strike the country in decades. Typhoon Nanmadol is the 14th typhoon of the season.