When Typhoon Ampil somewhat veered near Japan on Friday, Tokyo’s flights and train services were disrupted partly. Officials have described the conditions that prevail as potentially hazardous, owing to the prospects of strong wind, heavy rain, possible flooding, and mudslides, and have encouraged people to act accordingly.
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The Disturbance Caused to Japan by Typhoon Ampul
Typhoon Ampil, packing winds of up to 162 kph (101 miles) and gusts of even stronger was expected to move near the waters near Tokyo by Friday evening. JMA wanted the typhoon to strengthen and move northwards and forecasted that it would bring rains to the northern Kanto, and Tohoku by Saturday morning. Despite expectations that it will stay offshore without forming landfall, Ampil will still come through with torrential rains and heavy winds. It has also been pointed out by the JMA that the typhoon will fade to a tropical storm by Sunday.
Disruption of Transportation Services
In this sector, the effects of Typhoon Ampil were severely manifested. JR Tokai said that there would be no Shinkansen bullet train service between Tokyo and Nagoya stations on that day. This measure is taken mostly in Japan when there is an approach of typhoons to avert the loss of many passengers and staff. Intercity bullet trains going to northeastern Japan and several local Tokyo trains were either canceled or ran at a reduced speed.
The disruption was also evident in air transport as well The disruption was also triggered by advances in air transport as well. More than 72 flights were grounded at Haneda and Narita and more than 30 flights at each of the Kansai, Osaka, and Chubu airports. They have involved about 90,000 passengers, as reported by the Japanese media in early February 2009. As a result of the vagaries, several of the country’s highways were closed to traffic partially for security reasons and some of the airlines and rail companies were severely affected.
Preemptive Measures by Residents
Due to the schedule of the typhoon that was anticipated to hit the area, many people in the Tokyo area pre-empted expected disruptions by shifting their travel schedules closer to the time of the resulting unfavorable conditions. Flights and stations were full on Thursday, with people trying to evacuate before the arrival of the worst weather. It was raining and windy in Tokyo early Friday morning, and the streets were still not crowded, at least partly because it was the Bon Summer holidays period. The majority of shops remained open, however, the atmosphere in Tokyo was quieter than it is usual.
Warnings and Precautions
Towns have been told to brace for more devastation with people being advised against going near rivers and coastal lines because of the possibility of floods and overpowering waves. The Typhoon/Tropical Storm warning has been issued by the JMA with its chief forecaster Shuichi Tachihara warning that the public can expect ‘Da-deals’ which translate as ‘extremely fierce winds and extremely fierce seas’. This is a stern warning to ensure that the public tie down any outside items that can be blown away by the wind and be advised to stay indoors as much as possible during the typhoon.
The TV news provided images of such residents on the island that is part of Tokyo’s territory preparing to be affected by the typhoon by putting plywood on the window. Most stores saw customers rush for food items such as bread and instant noodles following the belief that they would be homebound for several days.
The Road Ahead
As Typhoon Ampil moves further north, the authorities pay much attention to its movement and regularly inform the public. However, more than its effects on the Tokyo area and the neighboring regions, the potential danger is the forecast that the typhoon will start weakening only by Sunday.
The impact of Typhoon Ampil which is evidenced by this paper highlights the force of natural disasters and the necessity of prevention measures during the occurrence of such natural events. Seeing that Japan gets such typhoons annually, the spirit and action of the nation about safety is crucial.
Conclusion
By using Typhoon Ampil’s example it can be stated that Japan knows how to confront natural disasters by issuing warnings, taking preventive measures as well as organizing an efficient disaster response. Measures like the cancellation of flights and trains have affected thousands of people, but they are necessary for the safety of people. During a Typhoon, residents are encouraged to be updated on the developments and as well heed the directions given by the local leaders to avoid life threats during occasions of such natural disasters.
