Severe typhoon Ampil approaching Japan disrupts flights, trains

TOKYO: Typhoon Ampil edged closer to Japan’s main island of Honshu on Friday (Aug 16), forcing major Japanese airlines to cancel flights and the government to issue a warning against possible landslides and flooding.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled some 90 international flights, impacting more than 15,000 passengers.

The two carriers also scrapped about 560 domestic flights, disrupting roughly 104,000 travellers who were looking to fly to destinations such as Okinawa, Osaka and Fukuoka, they said.

Disruptions from tropical storms have become more frequent in Japan, with the weather agency warning residents to stay indoors and be aware of water hazards, and companies urging employees to return home early.

The latest typhoon, categorised as a severe tropical storm, will be at its closest around midday on Aug 16, according to weather forecasters.

“While some people might be planning to spend leisurely time at the beach, we urge residents of potentially impacted areas to not approach the sea and rivers,” Satoshi Omatsu, director of the river management office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said at a news conference.

The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to be careful of high waves, landslides, flooding of low-lying areas and rising or overflowing rivers in eastern Japan. It issued heavy rain and storm warnings for Tokyo.

Some foreign airlines’ operations were also affected.

Korean Air Lines said 12 of its flights between Japan and South Korea will be suspended on Aug 16 and 17.

Cathay Pacific Airways said that its Japan flights are currently operating normally, adding that it is “closely monitoring the potential impact of severe tropical storm Ampil”.

“Customers are strongly advised to check the latest flight information on our website,” a company corporate affairs official wrote via e-mail.

Bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya will be halted throughout the day on Aug 16 as the typhoon brings heavy rain and strong winds, according to Central Japan Railway. Operations between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya will also be reduced.

East Japan Railway, which operates bullet trains to Aomori, Akita and Kanazawa, also said there may be disruptions on some routes in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo. Some local trains are also planning to halt operations within Tokyo.

East Nippon Expressway, which manages expressways in the Kanto region and Hokkaido, warned that some roads may be shut from Aug 16 to 17, and asked travellers to reconsider their plans. – Bloomberg