"So Beautiful Yet Terrifying on Earth"…Super Typhoon 'Nanmadol' Seen from Space

On the 18th (local time), Bob Hines, an astronaut affiliated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), shared images of Typhoon Nanmadol as seen from the International Space Station (ISS) on social media.
[Photo by Twitter]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] An image of Typhoon Nanmadol, the 14th typhoon approaching the Japanese archipelago, viewed from space has been released.

On the 18th (local time), Bob Hines, an astronaut affiliated with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), shared an image of Typhoon Nanmadol as seen from the International Space Station (ISS) on social media.

He said, "It looks so beautiful from space, but it's amazing how terrible it can be on Earth." He added, "I pray for the safety of everyone in the affected area of Nanmadol."

Meanwhile, as of 3 p.m. on the 18th, Typhoon Nanmadol was maintaining a "very strong" intensity about 110 km south of Kagoshima, Japan, moving north-northwest at a speed of 21 km/h. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that it is a "dangerous typhoon unlike any experienced before" and urged the highest level of caution. A special typhoon warning has been issued for Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Kyushu, where Nanmadol is expected to make landfall.

South Korea is also entering the typhoon's influence zone, mainly in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions. According to the Busan Meteorological Office, a strong wind advisory was issued for the entire Busan area at 2 p.m. on the 18th, followed by a typhoon warning for the sea off Busan at 6 p.m. Nanmadol is expected to be closest to Busan at 11 a.m. on the 19th.

Due to the typhoon, rain is expected to start falling in the Busan area from night and continue until tomorrow, with an expected rainfall of 50 to 100 mm (up to 150 mm). The Meteorological Agency also warned that some areas may experience strong winds with instantaneous maximum wind speeds reaching 25 m/s when the typhoon is near Busan, urging safety management.

On the afternoon of the 18th, weather information related to the northward approach of Typhoon Nanmadol No. 14 is displayed on the screen in the Situation Room of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters inside the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety also raised the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from Level 1 to Level 2 at noon on the 18th. Additionally, the typhoon and heavy rain crisis alert level was raised from caution to warning. Lee Sang-min, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "The typhoon is expected to have the greatest impact during nighttime hours," emphasizing, "Only proactive and swift responses can reduce damage to the public." He also urged, "Related agencies should fully commit to response efforts until the typhoon passes." Currently, regional disaster and safety countermeasure headquarters are operating in six cities and provinces including Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju in preparation for the typhoon.

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