A severe tropical storm battered Okinawa and south-western Japan on June 2, injuring 15 people and prompting calls to evacuate for hundreds of thousands of people due to flooding and landslide risks.
Storm Jangmi also knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and affecting flights to and from certain parts of the country. But the storm was heading north-east towards Tokyo, where the authorities warned of possible transport disruptions and school closures on 3 June.
Flights cancelled and rescheduled
Heavy rain is expected on Wednesday in the coastal Kanto region, which includes Tokyo.
More than 700 flights have been cancelled. Over 400 flights, mostly to and from the Kyushu region, were cancelled on Tuesday, 2 June.
Major domestic airlines say they have decided to cancel more than 370 flights on Wednesday 3 June, including those to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
Over 2,400 flights across the country were also delayed.
At least 14 Singapore Airlines flights on June 2 and 3 will be rescheduled. Flights leaving Singapore for Osaka, Nagoya, and Haneda and Narita airports serving capital Tokyo, will be retimed. Three SIA flights connecting Narita airport and Los Angeles will also be affected by the retiming.
Four Taiwanese carriers have either cancelled or adjusted the schedules of their flights to Japan on Tuesday.
Hong Kong Express cancelled its Hong Kong and Okinawa flights and Hong Kong Airlines cancelled its Hong Kong-Osaka flights for 3 June.
Airlines are calling on passengers to stay updated with the latest information as more cancellations and delays are possible, depending on the course of the storm.
Rail services
Railway operators are also calling on people to stay updated. The schedules of Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains are also set to be disrupted as the storm worsens, said Japan Railway.
The Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train ran on schedule on Tuesday, but services could be cancelled or delayed along some stretches and sections from the first train on Wednesday.
Operations on the Yamagata Shinkansen could be cancelled or delayed from around noon to late afternoon on Wednesday. East Japan Railway Company says it will halt some local train services in the greater Tokyo area Wednesday.
Tokyo Metro and other private railways say there could be cancellations or delays from the first train on Wednesday.
Travelers are urged to monitor the latest operational updates and check information related to their itineraries before departure.
