Refile: UPDATE 1-More Japanese regions brace for storms as Typhoon Khanun heads west

West Japan Railway

08/08/2023 06:01

(Refiles to add dropped "s" in "regions" in headline)
    By Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro  Komiya
       TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japan cancelled hundreds of
flights and advised more than 60,000 households to evacuate some
southern regions on Tuesday, as Typhoon Khanun, packing heavy
rain and strong winds, slowly heads westwards days after raging
through Okinawa.
    The typhoon, which is projected to reach South Korea's
southern coast on Thursday, is lingering in the Pacific Ocean,
about 200 km (124 miles) south of Japan's third-largest island
Kyushu, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
    Thunderstorms, with precipitation of up to 400 mm (16
inches), were expected to lash areas of Kyushu and neighbouring
Shikoku island in the next 24 hours, JMA said. Areas as far
north as Osaka and Nagoya are also likely to be affected.
    "Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged
impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly
rainfall for August," the JMA added. Khanun is moving at less
than 10 km per hour (6 mph).
    Trains, flights and ferries were cancelled for the next
couple of days.
    The city of Nagasaki also relocated a venue to commemorate
the 78th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Wednesday to
an indoor convention centre from a park.
    In Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, about 950 km (590 miles)
southwest of Tokyo, 60,000 households were advised to evacuate,
Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. In the western
part of the country's largest Honshu island, Mazda Motor
 7261.T  said it would suspend production at its two plants in
Hiroshima and Yamaguchi.
    Khanun rolled into Japan's southernmost Okinawa last week,
causing blackouts in more than 200,000 buildings. The storm has
since gradually lost its strength but still packs winds of up to
144 kph (40 mph).
    Airlines, including Japan Airlines  9201.T  and All Nippon
Airways  9202.T , cancelled 222 flights on Tuesday, bringing the
total number of flights disrupted by Khanun since last week to
2,715, according to a transportation ministry tally.
    South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of
participants at the World Scout Jamboree ahead of Khanun's
approach.
        Another typhoon has also emerged in the Pacific, the JMA
said. Typhoon Lan, with winds of up to 180 kph is expected to
reach central Japan on Sunday.

 (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by
Gerry Doyle and Miral Fahmy)
 ((Satoshi.Sugiyama@thomsonreuters.com;))