2 Dead, 1 Missing... At Least 108 Injured
Over 379 Flights Including JAL Canceled
Due to Typhoon Nanmadol, large waves are crashing near the Aki coast in Kochi Prefecture. Photo by AP Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] Typhoon No. 14 'Nangmadol' passed through the Japanese archipelago on the 19th, bringing over 700mm of rain in some areas. According to local broadcaster NHK on the 19th, 2 people died, 1 went missing, and the number of injured reached at least 108.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that as of 9 p.m. that day, Nangmadol's central pressure was 980 hPa (hectopascal), with a maximum wind speed of 30 m/s and a peak instantaneous wind speed of 40 m/s, calling it a "record-breaking typhoon only read about in books."
Due to the typhoon, heavy rain of 350 to 450 mm fell over 24 hours until noon that day in areas including Hatsukaichi City and Saeki Ward in Hiroshima Prefecture, and Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The area with the heaviest rainfall was Ebino City in Miyazaki Prefecture, where the 24-hour precipitation until 9 a.m. that day was 725.5 mm. In particular, Misato Town in Miyazaki Prefecture recorded a total rainfall of 985 mm from the 15th to that day.
On the 19th, as Typhoon 'Nanmadol' made landfall in southwestern Japan, the Sendai River in Isa, Kagoshima Prefecture, was flowing with strong currents. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
There were also casualties. Around 8 a.m. that day in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture, a man in his 60s was found dead in a passenger car parked next to a river embankment on farmland. At the time of discovery, the vehicle was submerged up to the roof.
In Mimata Town, Miyazaki Prefecture, a landslide swept away a workplace building. Police conducted rescue operations and found a man in the afternoon, who was transported to a hospital but died.
Also, as of 6 p.m., local governments in western Japan issued evacuation advisories to about 2 million residents, with warnings at the highest level 5 or one level lower, level 4, according to NHK's tally.
Typhoon No. 14 'Nanmadol' made landfall on the Japanese archipelago accompanied by strong winds, and on the afternoon of the 18th, a tree fell and blocked the national road in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Photo by AP Yonhap News
Injuries also continued. In Miyazaki Prefecture, the outer wall of a four-story building collapsed, and in Kagoshima Prefecture, a construction crane bent, prompting fire authorities to advise residents to evacuate, causing a commotion, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun. There were also people injured by glass shards broken by strong winds.
According to Kyushu Electric Power, as of midnight that day, about 339,120 households experienced power outages. Some areas also suffered communication network disruptions, making phone calls impossible.
Public transportation operations were also suspended. JR Tokai halted operations of the Tokaido Shinkansen. From around 4 p.m. that day, train services connecting Nagoya and Shin-Okazaki were canceled.
Japan Airlines (JAL) canceled 461 flights, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceled 379 flights, affecting more than 85,000 passengers. Both airlines decided to cancel over 60 flights on the 20th as well.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was scheduled to depart for New York, USA, to attend the United Nations General Assembly that day but postponed his departure to the 20th to respond to Nangmadol.
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