Typhoon Khanun Strikes Japan as 6th Storm of the Year... 2 Dead, Massive Power Outage in Okinawa

26.9% of Okinawa Households Lose Power
Uncertain Tides and Currents Forecast Additional Damage Expected

Typhoon Khanun, the 6th typhoon of the season, has struck the Okinawa area in Japan, causing widespread damage. In Okinawa, which is within the typhoon's influence, there have been fatalities and injuries, and a large-scale power outage has occurred, cutting electricity to 26.9% of households in the prefecture. With the typhoon stalled and its path difficult to predict, the Japan Meteorological Agency is concerned about additional damage.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, NHK reported that damage is mounting in Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefecture due to Typhoon Khanun. In Okinawa, as of 9 p.m. the previous day, two people have died and 58 have been injured. In Ogimi-son, a 90-year-old man was transported to the hospital after being trapped under a garage roof collapsed by strong winds, but he died. In Uruma City, an 89-year-old woman suffered burns in a fire caused while using candles during a blackout and later died while receiving treatment.

Additionally, a man in his 20s was injured with fractures after being knocked down by strong winds while removing a fallen tree, and a man in his 40s was injured by glass shards from a window broken by the typhoon.

Large-scale power outages have also continued. According to Okinawa Electric Power Company, as of 7:45 a.m. that day, 170,640 households, about 26.9%, out of a total of 633,670 households in Okinawa Prefecture were without power. The previous day, 34.6% of the prefecture was without power, but some restoration occurred after the typhoon warning was lifted.

In some areas such as Itoman City and Naha City, communication disruptions occurred, with mobile phone connections failing depending on the carrier.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, the Okinawa sea is experiencing a spring tide with rising sea levels, raising concerns about additional damage such as storm surges due to the typhoon's impact. Already, a 15-meter section of the national highway in Nago City, Okinawa, has collapsed due to high waves, leading to traffic control.

In Kagoshima Prefecture, also under the typhoon's influence, inconveniences continue such as delays in shipping the region's specialty mangoes during the peak season due to canceled ferry services.

Although damage is mounting, accurate prediction of the typhoon's path remains difficult. NHK analyzed, "Because the Pacific high-pressure system near Japan had expanded significantly, the typhoon has so far moved along the edge of the high pressure. However, the high pressure has split into two parts over the East China Sea, positioning the typhoon between them. It is difficult to predict how much influence each high-pressure system will have."

The Japan Meteorological Agency currently expects the typhoon to move into the East China Sea and then approach Okinawa again, but it cannot rule out changes in the future and urges attention to the latest weather forecasts.

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