Japan braces for Typhoon Khanun's winds and heavy rainfall

West Japan Railway

08/08/2023 02:22

TOKYO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A swath of Japanese regions,
including central areas, are bracing for Typhoon Khanun to
approach near southwestern Japan on Tuesday, as the country's
meteorological agency warns of damage from strong winds and
heavy rainfall.    
    The storm was hovering about 160 kilometres (99 miles)
east-northeast of the city of Amami in southwestern Japan and
moving slowly north as of 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT), the
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
    After skirting western parts of Japan's Nagasaki prefecture,
Khanun is projected to make its way parallel to the coast north
toward South Korea, according to the JMA.        
    Khanun has gradually lost its strength but still packs winds
of 108 kph (67 mph), with gusts of up to 144 kph.
    Rainfall of 300-400 mm (12-16 inches) was expected between
Tuesday and Wednesday in the Shikoku and southern Kyushu
regions, with 200-300 mm of rain in Amami, as well as Kinki in
Western Japan and the central region of Tokai, the weather
agency said.
    "Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged
impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly
rainfall for August in the Pacific Ocean side of Kyushu and
western Japan, and in the Tokai region," the JMA said.
    Mazda Motor Corp  7261.T  will suspend production at its two
domestic plants on Wednesday and Thursday, the carmaker said on
Monday.
    Shinkansen, or high-speed train, service may also be
suspended between the Hakata and Osaka stations from Wednesday
night until Thursday morning, the West Japan Railway Co  9021.T 
said.
    The city of Nagasaki relocated a venue to commemorate the
78th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Wednesday to an
indoor convention centre from a park.

 (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
 ((Satoshi.Sugiyama@thomsonreuters.com;))