Typhoon 'Hinnamnor' Hits Okinawa, Japan, Forcing Evacuation of 100,000; Kyushu on Alert as Storm Moves North

Maximum Instantaneous Wind Speed 50m... Ultra-Strong Typhoon
Thousands of Households Blacked Out, Street Trees Uprooted

As Typhoon Hinnamnor, the 11th typhoon, brought strong winds, street trees were broken and fallen in the central area of Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on the afternoon of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The 11th typhoon of the season, ‘Hinnamnor,’ struck Okinawa, Japan, causing power outages in thousands of households and numerous injuries due to strong winds. At one point, Okinawa experienced gusts reaching a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 40 meters per second, resulting in shattered building windows and uprooted street trees.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasted that the northward-moving ‘Hinnamnor’ would approach northern Kyushu between the evening of the 5th and the 6th, with maximum instantaneous wind speeds in the region expected to reach 50 meters per second. A wind speed of 50 meters per second is strong enough to cause concrete buildings to collapse. In southern Kyushu, the maximum instantaneous wind speed is predicted to be 35 meters per second, accompanied by heavy rainfall reaching 300 mm in a day.

The Meteorological Agency warned that waves in northern and southern Kyushu would reach heights of 12 meters and 10 meters respectively due to the heavy rain and strong winds, and urged caution against severe gusts such as lightning and tornadoes.

Earlier, Okinawa Prefecture, which came under the influence of Hinnamnor before Korea, issued large-scale evacuation orders as strong winds caused damage to parts of buildings.

On the 3rd, Ishigaki City, Miyakojima City, and Taketomi Town in Okinawa Prefecture issued evacuation orders to 109,500 residents. In Miyakojima City, 29,295 residents evacuated to shelters set up on the first floor of the city hall due to concerns that their homes might collapse.

The typhoon caused a total of four injuries in Okinawa Prefecture. On the same day, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s in Naha City were injured in the arm and head respectively after being knocked down by strong winds, and in the afternoon, an 80-year-old woman was hospitalized after sustaining a head injury.

In the convenience store areas of Okinawa Prefecture, retort pouch foods sold out. According to the Asahi Shimbun, residents of Miyakojima City prepared for the typhoon by purchasing cup noodles, milk, and candles, resulting in two-thirds of the grocery store shelves being emptied.

On the same day, a remarkable scene unfolded in front of a hotel in Okinawa Prefecture, where three dump trucks were parked to prevent building damage caused by strong winds. Agricultural damage was also reported to be significant. The Asahi Shimbun reported that on Minami Daito Island, where 80,000 to 100,000 tons of sugarcane are produced annually, most of the sugarcane was broken by the strong winds, causing total damage to the village amounting to tens of millions of yen.

Due to the typhoon’s aftermath, transportation to Okinawa was also disrupted. On the 2nd, 40 flights to Miyako City, Okinawa, were canceled, and 114 passenger ferries connecting Okinawa and Kagoshima also suspended operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.