240000 people have been requested to evacuate, and Japan has encountered "double typhoons". "Kanu" and "Lanu" have successively attacked | Japan | "Lanu" | "Kanu"

After Typhoon Kanu, Typhoon Lann, the 7th of this year, hit Japan again. On the 15th, "Lan En" made two consecutive landings in Japan. According to Japanese media reports, the typhoon caused power outages in tens of thousands of households, cancelled over 900 flights, and required 240000 people to evacuate.

At present, Typhoon Lann has weakened into a tropical storm and will move northward across the Sea of Japan. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency stated that concentrated rainfall may still occur in most areas.

Rainstorm, power failure, navigation suspension

At 5am local time on Tuesday, Typhoon Lann made landfall at the southern end of the Kii Peninsula and Wakayama Prefecture, before sweeping across western Japan. At that time, the wind speed of Lan En was close to 160 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.

Affected by the passage of "Lan En", heavy rain fell in the central and western parts of Honshu Island, Japan on the 15th.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued the highest level rainstorm warning to Tottori County after it was hit by "the worst extremely heavy rainstorm in decades". The maximum 24-hour rainfall in Okayama Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture exceeds 500 millimeters, which is more than 2.5 times the annual rainfall in August. The rainfall in Wakayama Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture also exceeded the average rainfall in August.

Multiple flood and landslide warnings have been issued, and some bridges have been washed away. Tornadoes have also appeared in many areas, but they have not caused significant damage.

According to Kyodo News Agency on the 16th, as of now, "Lan En" has caused 49 injuries in Japan.

Lan En also caused power outages in tens of thousands of households and cancelled over 900 flights.

According to Reuters, nearly 90000 households in central and western Japan have experienced power outages. For safety reasons, approximately 210 7-11 convenience stores have been closed.

On Tuesday, more than 900 domestic flights in Japan were suspended. Among them, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled over 560 flights. The section between Nagoya Station and Shin Osaka Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen, as well as the section between Shin Osaka Station and Okayama Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen, will be closed all day.

Kansai International Airport was temporarily closed due to flight cancellations and strong winds on the cross sea bridge connecting the airport. Most flights have been suspended or significantly delayed, causing chaos at the airport.

At the same time, the Ghibli Park in Nagoya and Universal Studios in Osaka both announced the temporary closure of the park. Nintendo's Osaka store has also announced its closure.

Crossing the coast of Japan

On Wednesday, heavy rain in central Japan forced the suspension of service on the Shinkansen between Tokyo Station and Hakata Station.

According to Tokaido Railway Company, rainfall has hit some areas of Shizuoka Prefecture, causing the interruption of the Tokaido Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo with Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka. Due to delays and shutdowns, the Kyushu Shinkansen station has experienced congestion and long queues of passengers.

Meanwhile, 240000 people in 11 prefectures received evacuation warnings on Tuesday. The government has stated that evacuation centers have been established in safe buildings and highlands for residents seeking refuge.

Last night, the center of the typhoon storm weakened to tropical storm strength. The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts that Typhoon Rann will cross the Sea of Japan on Thursday, moving northeastward at a speed of 10-15 kilometers per hour and approaching Hokkaido, gradually weakening in intensity. The Meteorological Agency stated that Typhoon Lann will be the first typhoon to cross the coast of Japan this year.

Although the intensity of the typhoon has weakened, the Meteorological Agency has warned that large areas from western to northern Japan will still experience heavy rainfall, and there may be floods and landslides.

This summer is full of ups and downs

This summer, Japan has been facing challenges from various extreme weather conditions.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Kanu hit southwestern Japan during the Oban Festival, causing power outages, closure of many factories, cancellation of hundreds of flights, and forced evacuation of urban residents. Now, in less than a week, "Lan En" has arrived one after another. The "double typhoons" indicate that Japan is becoming increasingly frequent and severely affected by typhoons.

Last month, Japan experienced another heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 39 degrees Celsius in some areas. According to data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, on July 16th, temperatures in some areas reached their highest record in over 40 years.

In the same month, the southwestern part of the country experienced the "largest rainfall ever", causing floods and mudslides, resulting in at least 6 deaths.

Scientists say that global warming is causing an increase in atmospheric moisture content, which is exacerbating the risk of heavy rainfall in Japan and other regions. At the same time, as the anthropogenic climate crisis accelerates, the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events will continue to increase.