Phanfone, a devastating typhoon in Japan has brought enormous threats and damages affecting the nation's transportation, network, electricity and properties to the whole vicinity of Japan on Sunday. The powerful typhoon prompted evacuation advisories of about 3 million people in the Eastern and Central Japan. Emerging as 'super typhoon,' the natural phenomenon shifted down significantly and is now on its way out of Japan to the sea.
Typhoon Phanfone has killed one American airman while two are still missing as they were swept away into the northwest coast of Okinawa sea on Oct.5. The storm hit Okinawa and Kyushu islands and is moving northeast at a speed of 25 kph. Typhoon Phanfone headed Tokyo with a recorded strong wind of 47 mph 11:12 a.m. JST on Monday. The worst of Phanfone's rage was felt throughout the metropolitan Tokyo with rainfall of about 30 cm (12 inches), gust of 145 kph (90 mph) and sustained winds of 65 to 95 kph (40 to 60 mph).
Earlier, the storm rage grounded over 100 flights and suspended power to more than 9,500 homes in Kyushu. Tokyo Haneda airport postponed 630 flights Monday morning, while bullet train service was also cancelled in the areas of Tokyo and Osaka. There is also widespread flood, power interruptions, and severe damages to infrastructures and properties. According to NHK World, Phanfone has left 50 people injured in Japan. With the insurgence of the storm, the search for the missing people due to the volcano eruption in Central Japan on Sept. 27 was also delayed.
The Powerful typhoon has promoted intense rain on the Eastern part of Japan and has left thousands of residents without power. The heaviest rain recorded in Tokyo was 272 mm (10.71 inches) of rain and 414 mm (16.30 inches) in Owase according to Japan Meteorological Agency. Although Typhoon Phanfone is on its way on leaving Japan, Storm Vongfong is expected to strike as it strengthens early this week at the Western Pacific ocean.
