Typhoon Hinnamnor Enters Japan's Impact Zone... 110,000 Ordered to Evacuate in Okinawa

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] In Okinawa, Japan, which entered the influence zone of Typhoon No. 11 'Hinnamnor' ahead of South Korea, thousands of homes experienced power outages, and evacuation orders were issued for approximately 110,000 people.

According to Kyodo News on the 4th, local governments in the island areas of western Okinawa Prefecture, including Ishigaki City, Miyakojima City, and Taketomi Town, issued 'evacuation orders' to about 110,000 residents the previous day. An evacuation order is a recommendation for everyone to evacuate from dangerous locations and corresponds to 'Level 4,' the second highest of the five alert levels issued by authorities to reduce damage caused by disasters such as typhoons.

A large-scale power outage also occurred. As of 11 p.m. on the 3rd, Okinawa Electric Power reported that about 3,400 households in Miyakojima City, Tarama Village, Ishigaki City, and Taketomi Town were experiencing power outages. On the same day in the afternoon, a woman in her 70s in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, was transported to the hospital after falling on the street due to strong winds and injuring her arm, and a man in his 80s was injured in the head after falling because of the strong winds.

Due to the typhoon's impact, flights between Tokyo Haneda Airport and Kagoshima Prefecture or Okinawa Prefecture were canceled the previous day, and flight operations are expected to be suspended on the 4th as well.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, as of 7 a.m. on the 4th, Hinnamnor recorded a central pressure of 950 hectopascals (hPa), a maximum wind speed near the center of 40 m/s, and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 60 m/s, moving northward between Okinawa's main island and Taiwan. It is forecasted that around 3 a.m. on the 6th, the center will be very close to Jeju Island while maintaining the same wind speeds.