Hundreds of flights canceled as Typhoon Ampil approaches Japan

Days after Tropical Storm Maria dumped record rains, Typhoon Ampil was set late Thursday to skirt the Tokyo region – home to almost 40 million people – and then churn up the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday.

ANA canceled some 280 domestic flights due on Friday, affecting more than 60,000 passengers, while Japan Airlines scrapped 191 domestic and 26 international services, hitting 38,600 customers.

Major parts of Japan’s network of bullet train services are also scheduled to be canceled on Friday – including the busy section between Tokyo and the central city of Nagoya.

Ampil – and Maria before it – comes as Japan marks the “obon” holiday week when millions return to their hometowns.

At 9 a.m., Ampil was 300 km off the remote Pacific island of Chichijima, packing gusts up to 180 kmh.

Categorized as “strong”, Ampil was forecast to head back out into the Pacific on Saturday and Sunday.

“We urge the public to stay informed about evacuation advisories and take early steps to seek safety,” Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura told a regular briefing.

The weather agency warned residents of eastern regions of possible violent gusts, flooding, overflowing rivers and landslides.