More Japanese regions brace for storms as Typhoon Khanun heads west

TOKYO - Japan cancelled hundreds of flights and advised more than 60,000 households to evacuate some southern regions on Tuesday (Aug 8), as Typhoon Khanun, packing heavy rain and strong winds, slowly heads westwards days after raging through Okinawa.

The typhoon, which is projected to reach South Korea's southern coast on Thursday, is lingering in the Pacific Ocean, about 200km south of Japan's third-largest island Kyushu, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Thunderstorms, with precipitation of up to 400mm, were expected to lash areas of Kyushu and neighbouring Shikoku island in the next 24 hours, JMA said. Areas as far north as Osaka and Nagoya are also likely to be affected.

"Due to the slow movement of the typhoon and its prolonged impact, total rainfall may greatly exceed the normal monthly rainfall for August," the JMA added. Khanun is moving at less than 10km per hour.

Trains, flights and ferries were cancelled for the next couple of days.

The city of Nagasaki also relocated a venue to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the US atomic bombing on Wednesday to an indoor convention centre from a park.

In Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, about 950km southwest of Tokyo, 60,000 households were advised to evacuate, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. In the western part of the country's largest Honshu island, Mazda Motor said it would suspend production at its two plants in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi.

Khanun rolled into Japan's southernmost Okinawa last week, causing blackouts in more than 200,000 buildings. The storm has since gradually lost its strength but still packs winds of up to 144kph.

Airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, cancelled 222 flights on Tuesday, bringing the total number of flights disrupted by Khanun since last week to 2,715, according to a transportation ministry tally.

South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of participants at the World Scout Jamboree ahead of Khanun's approach.

Another typhoon has also emerged in the Pacific, the JMA said. Typhoon Lan, with winds of up to 180kph is expected to reach central Japan on Sunday.

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