Typhoon Ampil hit eastern Japan on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain that flooded streets, forced evacuations, and disrupted daily life in the greater Tokyo area. With maximum sustained winds of 132 miles per hour, Ampil, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, posed a serious threat to the region, prompting widespread warnings from Japanese authorities.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings for violent winds, high waves, and the risk of landslides, particularly in Tokyo, the Izu Islands, and nearby prefectures such as Chiba, Fukushima, and Shizuoka. Up to eight inches of rain were forecast in some areas, with wind speeds expected to reach 56 miles per hour. The agency’s warnings were expected to remain in effect until Saturday as the storm continued its path.
Mobara, a city east of Tokyo, issued evacuation orders on Thursday for residents in landslide-prone areas. The city also halted its municipal bus services on Friday as a precaution. Local news reported flooded roads and downed trees in Chiba Prefecture by midday Friday, as the storm’s effects began to take hold.
The typhoon also disrupted transportation and business operations across the region. Japan Post, Yamato Transport, and Sagawa Express suspended services in several prefectures, while delays affected areas as far north as Hokkaido due to traffic restrictions and ferry and flight cancellations. Tokyo Disneyland closed early, shutting down at 3 p.m. on Friday, six hours ahead of its usual schedule.
Travel disruptions began as early as Thursday, with airlines and train operators canceling services in anticipation of the storm. Bullet trains between Tokyo and Nagoya were canceled on Friday, while All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines grounded more than 670 flights, affecting over 120,000 passengers.
Ampil was expected to continue moving north along Japan’s east coast before veering eastward on Saturday, heading away from the country and into the Pacific Ocean. Despite not making landfall, the typhoon’s impact was felt widely, underlining the powerful and unpredictable nature of such storms in the region.
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