After heavy rainfall in southern Japan over the week, Typhoon Khanun landed on South Korea’s southeast coast. South Korea responded with warnings, leading to 330+ flight cancellations and the evacuation of over 10,000 residents.
The storm dropped up to 60 mm of rain hourly on the east coast and reached wind speeds of 90 kph, especially in Gyeongsang Province and Jeju Island. As Khanun travels north at 20 kph, it’s between Kyushu Island, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.
In Japan, despite the season’s average, regions faced continuous rain, with one town reporting 985 mm by Thursday morning. In anticipation, South Korea paused outdoor activities for the World Scout Jamboree, relocating 37,000 scouts to safer areas. Additionally, the storm led over 1,500 schools to change schedules or shift to online learning.
The country is also grappling with the aftermath of last month’s monsoon, which caused multiple deaths. North Korea, too, is preparing for Khanun’s approach towards Pyongyang, with measures like sandbags in vulnerable locations.
Attention, however, is shifting to Typhoon Lan near Tokyo, with its path remaining unpredictable. It might influence Tokyo by the weekend’s end, coinciding with Obon, Japan’s significant summer holiday.
