OKINAWA: Okinawa, Japan’s picturesque tourist destination, was hit hard by high winds as powerful Typhoon Khanun approached the country’s southwestern islands on Wednesday morning. More than 200,000 households were left without electricity, and the storm’s impact has been felt with one dead and 11 injured.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a tragic incident occurred when a man was crushed under a collapsed garage and went into cardiac arrest. He was later found dead, as reported by various media outlets. The typhoon’s strong winds and slow movement posed significant risks to the region.
Approximately 700,000 people residing in the tropical prefecture were issued evacuation advisories, given the storm’s trajectory towards the northwest at a speed of 10 kilometres per hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Okinawa located approximately 1,600 kilometres (994 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is renowned for its natural beauty and attracts tourists from around the world.
The devastating winds caused cars to flip over in parking lots, as shown in TV footage, while heavy rain pounded the deserted streets. Swirling winds made trees sway, and floodwaters filled the roads, creating a dangerous situation for residents and visitors alike. Some locations in Okinawa experienced wind gusts of nearly 200 kilometres per hour (124.2 miles per hour) on Wednesday morning, accompanied by over 250 millimetres (9.8 inches) of rainfall within the past 24 hours.
The power outage severely affected daily life in Okinawa and the Okinawa Electric Power estimates over 210,000 households, comprising 34% of all houses covered are faced with power outages since 1:00 pm Wednesday.
Kyushu Electric Power also stated that 10,030 houses in the Amami islands of Kagoshima prefecture, north of Okinawa, were without electricity.
In addition to power disruptions, mobile operators SoftBank Corp and KDDI reported disruptions to phone and internet connections in certain areas of Okinawa due to the ongoing power outage.
Local authorities and emergency services are working diligently to restore essential services and provide aid to affected residents. The situation remains challenging as Typhoon Khanun continues its path towards Japan’s mainland. Officials urge people to remain vigilant, follow evacuation advisories, and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this severe weather event.
As the recovery efforts begin, the spirit of resilience and community support in Okinawa will play a crucial role in overcoming the aftermath of Typhoon Khanun’s devastating impact on the island.
