APD | Powerful typhoon to hit Japan this weekend

By APD writer Alice

The Japanese weather agency on October 9 warned that a powerful typhoon may make landfall on Japan's main island over the weekend, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and high waves across a wide area.

Typhoon Hagibis, the season's 19th, is currently traveling over waters near the Ogasawara island chain in the Pacific and is expected to hit western and eastern Japan between Saturday and Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

As of 6 p.m., the typhoon was traveling at 15 kilometers per hour with an atmospheric pressure of 915 hectopascals at its center, packing winds of up to 270 kph.

The power of Hagibis is expected to be as strong as that of Typhoon Faxai that made landfall in eastern Japan in September, causing massive power outages in Chiba prefecture, and last year's Typhoon Jebi that flooded a terminal and a runway at Kansai International Airport in September last year.

The Pacific side of western and eastern Japan may see torrential rain from October 11 until the typhoon passes as the agency warned of floods caused by the high waves and tides.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)