Typhoon Khanun lashes southern Japan, north braces for another storm

West Japan Railway

09/08/2023 03:19

TOKYO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Heavy rain from Typhoon Khanun
pounded southern Japan on Wednesday as another storm approached
from the east to possibly threaten Tokyo just as thousands of
people prepare to travel during the peak summer holiday season. 
    Khanun could make landfall on the southwestern main island
of Kyushu, some 858 km (533 miles) from Tokyo, on Thursday, but
areas of the region have already been inundated with a whole
month's worth on rainfall in the past week, the Japan
Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. 
    The storm is currently in the sea south of Kyushu after
wreaking havoc in the southwestern Okinawa region.
    It is maintaining its strength and moving at an unusually
slow 10 kph (6 mph), meaning the wind and rain will linger for
longer. 
    The JMA issued heavy rain and high wind warnings to many
parts of southern and western Japan. Railway operator West Japan
Railway Co  9021.T  has also suspended some of its Shinkansen
bullet train service in Kyushu. 
    A second storm, Lan, had formed in the Pacific Ocean south
of Japan and was predicted to strengthen as it heads north,
possibly affecting Tokyo early next week, JMA said. 
    The two storms arrive at the start of Obon, the peak summer
holiday season when many Japanese leave big cities for their
ancestral hometowns.

 (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Elaine Lies; editing by
Miral Fahmy)
 ((Mariko.Katsumura@thomsonreuters.com;))