Powerful Typhoon Moves Toward Tokyo, Disrupting Transport

TOKYO, Aug 16 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A powerful typhoon is advancing toward Tokyo and other eastern Japan on Friday morning, with the weather agency urging people to prepare for strong winds and heavy rainfall. Many train services and flights have been cancelled.

Kyodo news agency reported that the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of violent winds, mudslides, high waves, and flooding, as heavy rain will sharply increase the risk of disaster.

At 10 am Friday, near the end of Japan's Bon summer holiday period, Typhoon Ampil was located some 100 kilometres east-northeast of Hachijo Island which sits south of the Japanese capital.

The typhoon is moving northward at 20 km per hour, according to the weather agency.

It has an atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals at its centre and is packing winds of up to 216 kph.

JR Central suspended all Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya, central Japan, for the entire day. Beyond Nagoya, the company plans to run a limited number of trains to and from Shin-Osaka via Kyoto in western Japan.

JR East, which operates shinkansen in eastern, northeastern, and central areas, will also cancel some bullet trains on parts of the Tohoku, Joetsu, and Yamagata lines from the afternoon.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said they canceled approximately 650 international and domestic flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Narita Airport, east of the capital, affecting about 120,000 passengers.

In Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, some commercial complexes were closed, including the Sogo department store.

In the 24 hours from 6 am Friday, the typhoon is forecast to bring up to 300 millimetres of rain to the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, 200 mm in the Tohoku region, and 120 mm in the Tokai region.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO