Japan cancels 120 flights as two tropical storms approach, evacuations ordered

Japanese carriers cancelled 120 flights on Friday as two tropical storms moved toward the archipelago, prompting evacuation advisories and widespread travel and industrial disruption.

Who and what was affected

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled a combined 120 flights to and from the southern regions of Okinawa and Kagoshima. Forecasters said severe tropical storm Mekkhala had been downgraded from a typhoon but still brought gusts of up to 144 kilometres per hour and heavy rain to parts of southern and western Japan.

Storm track and interaction

Mekkhala was expected to skirt the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku over the weekend and could potentially converge with tropical storm Higos, which was located further out in the Pacific. Forecasters warned the two systems could interact in what is known as the Fujiwhara effect, making their movements and strengths harder to predict.

Local warnings and evacuations

The Kyoto region advised several thousand residents to evacuate, citing the risk of landslides. Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed a brown, fast-moving river in the area. Officials in Kyoto and Osaka reported rising river levels and urged vigilance because of flooding threats.

Transport, industry and military impacts

Heavy rain and road closures prompted automaker Toyota to suspend operations at a plant in Kyushu. Nissan said it planned to halt some production lines, according to Kyodo News. The Japanese military cancelled the planned maiden flight of a V-22 Osprey transport aircraft to Miyako Island that was to be part of joint exercises with the United States, Kyodo reported.

Effects in Taiwan

Across the strait, more than 1,600 people in Taiwan were evacuated and schools and offices were closed in several areas as Mekkhala brought torrential rain, floods and landslides. Authorities recorded no casualties but warned of dangerous debris flows in Hualien county, Kaohsiung and Pingtung. Taiwan’s weather agency said as much as 88cm of rain had fallen since Thursday.

Localised disruptions continue

Some residents downstream from a recently detected barrier lake in a rugged area of Hualien left their homes, a local official said. Some train lines were suspended in Taiwan because of the storms.

Summary of verified impacts

• 120 flights cancelled by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
• Mekkhala downgraded from typhoon status; gusts up to 144 km/h.
• Evacuation advisories for several thousand residents in Kyoto region.
• Industrial pauses: Toyota plant suspension and Nissan planned line halts (Kyodo News).
• Japanese military cancelled a planned V-22 Osprey maiden flight to Miyako Island (Kyodo News).
• More than 1,600 people evacuated in Taiwan; up to 88cm of rain reported since Thursday.

The situation remained fluid as forecasters monitored the two storms and authorities urged residents in affected areas to follow evacuation guidance and safety warnings.