Japan orders evacuations as Typhoon Dolphin approaches, cancels 500 flights
TOKYO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people in southwestern Japan were ordered to evacuate and more than 500 flights cancelled on Friday as slow-moving Typhoon Dolphin approached the region to bring violent winds, heavy rain and high waves.
TOKYO, Aug 7 - Hundreds of thousands of residents in southwestern Japan have been ordered to evacuate as Category 1 Typhoon Dolphin makes its approach, bringing with it the threat of violent winds, torrential rain and treacherous sea conditions. The storm, currently moving slowly, has sustained winds of 144 kph (89.5 mph) and gusts up to 198 kph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
Evacuation orders have been issued for nearly 260,000 people in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures, while Toyota 7203.T has halted operations at nine factories on Friday. Authorities warn that as the typhoon nears Okinawa, there is a risk of damaging winds that could topple or damage structures. A narrow band of intense precipitation could also develop, potentially leading to flooding.
Kyushu, particularly Kumamoto prefecture, is already grappling with the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck last week. More than 6,700 residents in Kumamoto have taken shelter in evacuation centers due to collapsing buildings. The JMA has also cautioned about the risk of heatstroke, with temperatures poised to reach 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) in certain regions.
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- Japan orders evacuations as Typhoon Dolphin approaches freemalaysiatoday.com
- Japan orders evacuations and cancels 500 flights as Typhoon Dolphin approaches japantimes.co.jp
- Japan orders evacuations as Typhoon Dolphin approaches, cancels 500 flights channelnewsasia.com
