Strongest Storm in 25 Years Hits Japan
Japan’s strongest storm in 25 years, Typhoon Jebi, has hit the west of the country causing widespread damage. At least 11 people have been killed and over 300 injured.
The typhoon left more than a million people without power. 16,000 people in areas affected by the storm were forced to evacuate and stayed in shelters overnight. A further 1.2 million people were asked to leave their homes. Businesses and schools have temporarily closed in some of the worst-hit areas.
Wind speeds reached 216 kilometers per hour when the storm made landfall on Tuesday. This caused many trucks to be knocked over, and vehicles to be blown off roads. About 100 cars also caught fire in a car yard in Nishinomiya after water damaged their electronics.
During the early stages of the storm, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked residents to “evacuate early.” He has cancelled a trip to Kyushu in south-west Japan in order to focus on the government response to the disaster. Abe's government is also organizing relief efforts for the large earthquake that struck Hokkaido early yesterday morning.
The only bridge connecting Kansai Airport to the mainland was heavily damaged when a large boat broke loose from nearby docks and collided with it. This caused 3,000 passengers to be stranded at the airport overnight without power. They were evacuated by boat on Wednesday.
Local industries may be severely affected by the storm. Many fruits and vegetables are ready to be harvested in the area, but have likely been damaged or destroyed by the wind and flooding. Kansai airport will likely be closed for the next week, so electronics manufacturers will have difficulty shipping their products.
