Typhoon "Amphil" Paralyzes Movement in Japan

Hundreds of flights and train services in Japan were canceled on Thursday during a major weeklong holiday as another typhoon approached the archipelago. Following days of tropical storm "Maria," which brought record rainfall, Typhoon "Amphil" is expected to hit the Tokyo area, home to about 40 million people, late Thursday before sweeping across the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday. All Nippon Airways canceled approximately 280 domestic flights scheduled for Friday, impacting the plans of more than 60,000 travelers, while Japan Airlines canceled 191 domestic flights and 26 international flights, affecting 38,600 passengers. Significant cancellations of high-speed train services are also expected Friday, including on the busy route between Tokyo and the city of Nagoya in central Japan. Typhoon "Amphil" comes after "Maria" during Japan's Obon holiday, when millions return to their hometowns. As of 9 a.m. (00:00 UTC), Typhoon "Amphil" was located 300 kilometers off the coast of the remote Chichijima Island in the Pacific, accompanied by winds reaching speeds of 180 kilometers per hour. "Amphil," meaning "tamarind" in Khmer, is expected to move into the Pacific on Saturday and Sunday. Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura urged the public in a regular press briefing, saying, "We encourage the public to stay informed about evacuation warnings and take early steps to seek safe places." The Meteorological Agency warned residents of eastern areas of possible severe storms, flooding, river inundation, and landslides. Japan is frequently hit by major typhoons that can cause deadly landslides. According to a study released last month, typhoons form in the region near coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and persisting longer over land due to climate change. Researchers from universities in Singapore and the United States analyzed data from over 64,000 storms from the 19th century through the end of the 21st century to reach these conclusions.