Photo/Illutration Shuichi Tachihara, left, an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency, and Satoshi Omatsu, a land ministry official, meet with media representatives on Aug. 13 to explain developments related to Typhoon No. 7. (Takuya Miyano)

With the imminent arrival of powerful Typhoon No. 7, authorities are warning of fierce winds, relentless rain and high waves in western and eastern Japan.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall around Aug. 15 after approaching the Kinki and Tokai regions, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on the afternoon of Aug. 13.

Noting that the typhoon is moving very slowly, at 10-15 kph, Shuichi Tachihara of the JMA told media representatives, “It will take about two days to pass through Japan.”

Tachihara urged residents to take precautions, in particular against torrential rain. 

In some areas, the total amount of rainfall could exceed the average amount for the entire month of August, he said. 

Satoshi Omatsu, a land ministry official who attended the briefing with Tachihara, cited the 2011 typhoon-related flood disaster in the Kii Peninsula that was triggered by torrential rain.

“Water levels in small and midsize rivers can rise in a short period during heavy rainfall,” he warned. 

The Kii Peninsula is more or less on the expected path of Typhoon No. 7. 

Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) and West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) warned that their respective Tokaido Shinkansen Line and Sanyo Shinkansen Line services would almost certainly be halted that day.

JR Tokai said the Tokaido Shinkansen Line linking Tokyo and Osaka may also be suspended from Aug. 14 until Aug. 16.

JR West said Sanyo Shinkansen services between Shin-Osaka and Okayama stations could be halted on Aug. 15.

The season’s seventh typhoon was located around 320 kilometers south of Tokyo’s Hachijojima island as of 3 p.m. on Aug. 13 and moving slowly in a northwesterly direction, the JMA said.

With a central pressure of 965 hectopascals, the typhoon was generating maximum sustained winds of 144 kph near the center and maximum instantaneous gusts of 198 kph.

Winds at speeds of more than 90 kph were blowing within a 110-km radius of the center.

Very strong winds are expected on the Pacific side of eastern to western Japan through Aug. 15.

Howling winds are forecast in the Tokai region from Aug. 14 to 15, and the Kinki region on Aug. 15, the JMA said.

Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are expected in western Japan from Aug. 14 to 15 and in eastern Japan on Aug. 15, mainly on the Pacific side of the country.

The JMA is urging residents to remain on high alert for landslides, flooding of low-lying areas and overflowing rivers.

Up to 300 to 500 millimeters of rain is forecast for the Tokai region in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. on Aug. 15.

Over the same period, 200 to 300 mm is expected in the Kanto-Koshin and Kinki regions and 100 to 200 mm in the Shikoku region, it added.

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