On Now
Weekdays 06:00 - 09:00
The Good Morning Breakfast Shandor, Margaret, John and Nadine
NEXT: 09:00 - 12:00 Mid-Morning Magic with Yolanda
Listen Live Streams

International

Mudslides and flooding as typhoon #Nanmadol batters Japan

───   07:34 Tue, 20 Sep 2022

Mudslides and flooding as typhoon #Nanmadol batters Japan | News Article
PHOTO: An aerial view of houses submerged by flooding on the island of Kyushu. - BBC

Rescue workers in Japan have warned of mudslides and flooding as one of the biggest storms in recent decades batters the country.

Typhoon Nanmadol has killed at least two people and injured 90 others since it made landfall on the southernmost island of Kyushu on Sunday morning.

Nine million people have been told to evacuate, and more than 350 000 homes are without power.

Forecasts predict up to 400mm (16 inches) of rain over the next 24 hours.

State broadcaster NHK said one man was killed when his car was submerged in flooding, and another died after being buried in a landslide. One more person remains missing, and reports say 87 others have been injured.

The super typhoon brought gusts of up to 234km/h, destroying homes and disrupting transport and businesses. It's equivalent to a category four or five hurricane.

Also read: Millions in Japan seeking shelter from Typhoon #Nanmadol 

The capital Tokyo, experienced heavy rain, with the Tozai underground line suspended because of flooding. Bullet train services, ferries, and hundreds of flights have been cancelled and shops and businesses have shut. Local video footage showed roofs ripped off of buildings and billboards toppled over.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delayed a visit to New York, where he is due to give a speech at the UN General Assembly, until Tuesday, to monitor the storm's impact.

The storm is forecast to turn east and pass over Japan's main island of Honshu before moving out to sea by Wednesday.

Scientists have predicted an active hurricane season this year, influenced by a natural phenomenon known as La Niña.

Warmer sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean as a result of climate change may also impact the frequency and intensity of hurricanes.

BBC

@ 2025 OFM - All rights reserved Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | We Use Cookies - OFM is a division of Central Media Group (PTY) LTD.