Typhoon Forecast To Hit Japan On Aug 27; Transport Disruptions Expected

TOKYO, Aug 24 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A strong typhoon is forecast to approach western and eastern Japan from Tuesday through Wednesday, with shinkansen bullet train operators warning of potential service suspensions in many areas as a precautionary measure, Kyodo News Agency reported.

Typhoon Shanshan is expected to move north towards the Japanese Pacific coast while strengthening in force due to high sea temperatures, although its path is still hard to predict, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

As of 9 am Saturday, the typhoon was located around the Ogasawara Islands, south of Tokyo, on Saturday, moving northwards at a speed of 25 kilometres per hour.

The agency also warned of lightning, gusts, hail and torrential rain over the weekend ahead of the tropical storm's arrival, as the weather is likely to be unstable with warm air coming through the edge of a high pressure system.

Torrential rains have frequently hit Tokyo and its surrounding areas recently, flooding roads and affecting train services.

Upon arrival of the typhoon, services on the Tokaido, Sanyo, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet trains may be cancelled or suspended on part or all of their sections around Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the operators.

When Typhoon Ampil passed close to eastern Japan last week, many bullet train services were suspended, including an all-day halt of the busy Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Nagoya on Aug 16, affecting many tourists and travellers amid the summer holiday season.

About 650 international and domestic flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport and Narita airport, east of the capital, were also cancelled.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO