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2 dead, many injured as typhoon hits western Japan, shuts down Kansai airport

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Japan is really getting wallopped this year. Stay safe everyone.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

But at the time of this posting, it's still sitting offshore just spinning its Wheels hopefully it'll die out and not hit the already flood-damaged areas or Southern Japan

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Everything is still calm in Shiga now (7AM), God knows what it will be in the next following hours. I pray that you are all safe. God bless.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Hope the forecasters have it wrong and it will head out back into the Pacific.

Let it be a Return of the Jebi.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Michael Jackson - it won't. The course of typhoons is predicted with very high accuracy, and usually predictions are usually no more than a few miles out

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Only a Category 2 now. Big fuss about nothing.

-25 ( +3 / -28 )

Kawabegawa198, You've fallen into the trap of complacency. Never underestimate what weather can do.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

Strong or not, will still bring a lot of rain. There has already been a great deal of flooding this year.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

As of 6pm Tue night it was already downgraded to a category 1. It's on the verge of becoming categorized as a tropical storm.

This is nowhere close to being "one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan".

Japanese media need to be clearer about the actual strength of the hurricanes. It was a category 5 six days ago but nothing near that now.

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

12-3 will be worst here in Kobe, fingers crossed. I always get well preped when these typhoons come. And yes 99% of the time its just wet and windy but i know that if the S did hit the fan my family and i will be better off for it, dib dib dob.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Nice and sunny in Osaka at 8:30. A formerly Massive typhoon that’s now not very scary but still gets you the day off?...

Hey let’s hit the gym!

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

According to the weather bureau as of 8am it was classified as 非常に強い, so it could still pack a punch.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

For those suggesting that a lowering of the category rating means the typhoon is "a big fuss about nothing etc etc" seem to know little about what a serious rain event is.

Most damage, death & destruction this year in Japan has not been caused by cyclonic winds but the dumping of collosal amounts of rain in a very short period.

ATM, Typhoon Jebi fits that criteria.

Take care all.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Why refer to it by name when JMA does not?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Yes, it is a strong typhoon and, at present, it is till holding quite strong. I think the headline is quite sensationalised though.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

As of 6pm Tue night it was already downgraded to a category 1. It's on the verge of becoming categorized as a tropical storm.

This is nowhere close to being "one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan".

Japanese media need to be clearer about the actual strength of the hurricanes. It was a category 5 six days ago but nothing near that now.

Speed - The typhoon is expected to make landfall with a pressure of about 950 GPa, which I don't think has happened during the 15 years I've been living here. In this case the media are not overreacting.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

More scaremongering nonsense. It is only a category 1 now, the weakest possible typhoon, yet NHK are still saying it's 非常に強い. I think it's time Japan adopted the 1-5 rating for typhoons, rather than the strong / extremely strong / violent categories they use now. What Japan calls a "strong" typhoon is considered a tropical storm elsewhere. It's no wonder people stop taking any notice of warnings when they are making hysterical predictions like the above article almost every day.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

Those people in the picture seem pretty close to those huge waves!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

 It's no wonder people stop taking any notice of warnings when they are making hysterical predictions like the above article almost every day.

Average person may laugh it off but it really messes up many peoples' days when work, school, trains and planes are cancelled with many stores and highways closing down.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Here's the global wind map, if you're interested.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-226.01,33.93,3000

5 ( +5 / -0 )

We've all been subject to the follies of the overly cautious eyes rolling frustratingly so - but to the current mob of naysayers the situation nearby my vicinity (60ks) atm in shikoku.

Rainfall of 80mm in the last hour to 11:30am - that's over 3 inches an hour for the non converts.

Wind gusting at 50m/sec = 180km/hr - that's 120+mph for the non converts.

So I call foul on authorities for closing schools, highways and ordering evacuations etc as being "too scaredy".

Not!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Speed: "As of 6pm Tue night it was already downgraded to a category 1. It's on the verge of becoming categorized as a tropical storm."

You from the future? Winds are quite strong now, and rain getting heavier.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Yes, a little sick of the 'much ado about nothing' JT jaded-Japan-expert typhoon bravado. Car port roofs are already being blown away here, and we're not in the center yet.

Since when is 120 mph wind 'nothing'? Anyone saying it's nothing is far away , or isn't in Japan...

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Extreme weather becoming more and more the norm.  Take an umbrella.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

browny1Today  09:14 am JST

For those suggesting that a lowering of the category rating means the typhoon is "a big fuss about nothing etc etc" seem to know little about what a serious rain event is.

I never wrote that this is "a big fuss about nothing".

The meaning of the message is that the weather service needs to provide more accurate information. Not this "strongest storm in 25 years" nonsense.

This lack of accuracy does two things:

One, it forces me and countless others to take unnecessary precautions. For a category 1 typhoon, I don't need to board up my whole house and tie down various items, like I unfortunately just did. For me and many others, emergency preparations between a super typhoon and a small one are very different.

Two, it makes the weather service lose credibility. I'm finding myself more and more checking overseas' weather sites for more accurate and detailed information. When there's actually "the strongest storm in 25 years" hitting us, I might not believe it in the future.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Pay attention to warnings! A large precent of deaths occur because people underestimate the power of nature! The real McCoy is lashing us right now! Pay attention to warnings...and do as they say!!!!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

JR West has essentially shut down all train services. I've been monitoring the live web cam pointed at conventional train tracks at Shin-Osaka Station and I didn't see one train go by for nearly 20 minutes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

We just lost an 18-foot-tall tree.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The concrete pays off.... $40 million on concrete to protect about $5 million in private boats.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Speed - I never said you said that it's big fuss over nothing.

I simply stated what the current conditions were in my neck o' the woods - you know reality - and they warranted all the severe warnings given.

I also alluded to in my 2nd post to the "overly cautious" approach by authorities unduly worrying and inconveniencing people. Like get it right.

But a typhoon I took for granted 13 years ago shook me out of that complacency when my area was flooded (luckily not my house) and 1 guy drowned trapped in his car 200m from my house.

Now I accept the annoyance of a downgraded alert just to be safe. Last night I moved all outside plants, furniture and things and drew all the storm shutters. This morning - before the hit - the house was dark, hot and stuffy (no windows open) and I thought, yeah not much will happen.

But come 9:00am I was very, very glad. Thought I might lose the carport, but I think we're past that.

So I just wear it these days.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

Speed: Two, it makes the weather service lose credibility. I'm finding myself more and more checking overseas' weather sites for more accurate and detailed information.

Actually, the last time I checked one of the leading overseas weather sites, Accuweather, it stated that the typhoon made landfall in Shikoku as a category 3 typhoon, not cat. 1, and it still categorizes Jebi as a "life-threatening" typhoon. And yes, it's true that it will be downgraded to a cat. 1 as of Tuesday night, but based on the map, it will be already in Hokuriku moving to Sea of Japan, so much of the heavily populated Kansai area will still bear the brunt of cat. 3 or cat. 2, at least.

Source: https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/typhoon-jebi-to-deal-japan-another-dangerous-blow/70005948

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Raymond: "JR West has essentially shut down all train services."

You could fart in the direction of JR on a day with zero wind and they'd close down; spit and they'd say it's due to flooding. They are useless. The worst part about them is that when hundreds of people are stranded because their trains were stopped in one part, when they ask for transfers to another line JR will say, "Sorry... that's JR West, we're East," and the usual crap despite having the same parent company and getting government funds.

Speed: "I never wrote that this is "a big fuss about nothing".

Um, you did... and also that "as of Tuesday night..." which is in the future. You then CONTINUE to downplay it and say it's a fuss about nothing by saying the severity of the forecast made you "unfortunately take precautions," etc. If you're going to complain, just own it. Don't try to say you weren't downplaying it by literally going on to downplay it. This is the strongest to make landfall in 25 years, but you're saying the forecasters were wrong in telling you to do what you did anyway. If you or someone you know were injured because a lack of warning and precautions, we'd never hear the end of it.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Speed: "Two, it makes the weather service lose credibility."

Weather services aren't the one's losing credibly, here, amigo.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Holy moly, that's the hugest breaker I've ever seen.

We're going to need a bigger ship.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

For those calling this nothing, I just watched two neighbors' fly off. This one is not joking around.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Okay, I saw the shingles all fly off one. The other was roof tiles.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

two neigbours' what?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A couple of aerials blew off the roof across the street, and some iron flapping about. Wouldn't want to be downing of that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Aside from all the bickering above, that is one impressive wave photograph!

(Tokyo at 2pm is soggy but OK. It's not raining here since mid-morning downpours.)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Wow! What a spectacular photo!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Jesus! An entire building was shredded just next to me. Power's going down. Do NOT go outside! Some idiot on his bike just missed a roof flying onto the road.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

https://goo.gl/h4i3eS

It's 3km/h in the core

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the worst is behind us (kobe). Was short but pretty intense between 1 & 2pm. On the positive side, my windows have never looked so clean!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

"The most powerful typhoon to make landfall in Japan in 25 years"

Wrong.

Seriously, who does the research at Kyodo news? Fire them.

Super Typhoon Bart (cat 5 260kph winds) of 1999 ; that's 19 years ago, not 25...

."claimed at least two lives on the island of Okinawa and brought over 710 millimetres of rain to the island.Heavy flooding and landslides led to a death toll of 30 and over 1,000 injuries in Japan. Over 800,000 homes lost power, whilst 80 000 were damaged in the aftermath of the storm. The worst damage occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, where 16 people died and over 45,000 homes were damaged."

That said. Take care everyone. Its treacherous out there. Stay indoors. Hope the power stays on, offline some movies to netflix on your tablet just in case.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Getting walloped by it as I write this. Am going to have a nasty mess to clean up outside tomorrow!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Cucashopboy: "two neigbours' what?"

Sorry... typing too fast. Two neighbours' rooves. Now there's a massive corrugated roof that flew from somewhere in the park behind us. Smashed into the building across from mine where some knucklehead was out just before taking video. I'm fortunate in that my apartment does not face the wind, although a bunch of splinters and plastic stuff keep hitting the net, which for once I'm thankful is there. Got some crazy video through the window. Anyway, take care, people.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

It predicted to drop 500mm of rain/water, it does seem a lot, but when you times that by X about of square meters or square acres on farm land, that tonnes, and tonnes of water. I just hope the rivers can take it. each gallon or 4.5 ltrs weighs 10 lb or 4.5kg

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In the northern most region of the Sakyo-ward of Kyoto City there is a blackout - I'm using the "hotspot" function on my iPhone.

In my immediate neighborhood, i don't see any damage. Hopefully, there will be none: here or elsewhere.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Be careful everyone.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

A large boat broke loose and ran into the bridge that connects Kansai airport (KIX) to the mainland. Doing significant structural damage as I write this.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Here in south of Kyoto, power is out in my area. The emergency partitions along the balcony in my mansion were all smashed to pieces just a while ago.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/saigai/typhoon21/ video of the KIX bridge boat. A huge tanker , that was refueling the airport and it is doing massive damage to the bridge. Now worried about the fuel, Av gas, most likely. That is the biggest worry in my mind.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Two neighbours' rooves. Now there's a massive corrugated roof that flew from somewhere in the park behind us. Smashed into the building across from mine where some knucklehead was out just before taking video. I'm fortunate in that my apartment does not face the wind, although a bunch of splinters and plastic stuff keep hitting the net, which for once I'm thankful is there. Got some crazy video through the window. Anyway, take care, people.

smithinjapan - Keep it up! You're doing a much better job of reporting stuff than NHK!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Anxiously watching my apple tree getting battered and hoping it will survive. Wish it luck, everyone! It has lost one limb so far and is listing about 30 degrees, but still holding on.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

You know it is a big one when you turn on the news and see that Kansai airport has sunk.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Well I guess all the people saying how this was a load of nothing earlier this morning have egg on their faces!

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Wow. That was brutal. I hope the airport gets fixed soon.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Apple tree update: another limb just got ripped off and went flying.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

cucashopboy: "smithinjapan - Keep it up! You're doing a much better job of reporting stuff than NHK!"

No doubt you'll see it on NHK, along with the reports that the people on bicycles taking video of it were killed by flying debris... idiots. People will do anything for a photo. Was thinking of sending in a couple of photos from my balcony (which, fortunately, does not face the wind), but it's got a lot of silly neighbors' faces in it as they stand on balconies now damaged from the flying roof now sitting in my park.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Just as well people don’t really on Mr Kabegawa for their weather information .

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Worst seems past, anyhow.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The footage of roofs being ripped off and parts of buildings crashing down is shocking. The bridge in Arashiyama is damaged. Kansai airport being out of action for any amount of time is going to be a blow to the economy.

Neighbours have damage, we were lucky.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eWKJUmrpq6U&t=11s

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So, climate change has become a climate crisis.

Expect lots of meetings and teeth sucking.

At Toyota, Nissan and Honda they’ll decide to build more cars.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

thepersoniamnow: Thanks for the link. Yeah, that's about what things looked like in my neighborhood (the videos with rooftops flying). Some of that looked way worse, though (in the video). I can't believe that shopping center with the glass roof! People are darn lucky they were not standing where it fell. Anyway, my neighbourhood looks like a war zone. Walked around and the rooftops of three apartment buildings (and much of the top floor of one of those) had blown off. One landed in a park just behind my balcony, as I mentioned, the others are scattered about between houses. They were cheap, old buildings, and I think the owner is going to be in deep poop... or at least very deep in the red after repair costs to the area if he's held responsible.

But man... some of the scenes in that video compilation! I was recording just before the roof blew into the park, but not when it did. Stay safe, people... still stuff loose out there, including power lines.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Storm has passed and my apple tree survived, yay!

9 ( +9 / -0 )

At Toyota, Nissan and Honda they’ll decide to build more cars.

They wouldn't if we weren't buying them.

Gonna be a lot of clearing up to do in the morning. Even 300 miles away from Kansai the winds were like nothing I've felt in over 15 years. Crap everywhere, most of it will end up in the rivers & seas.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Rainyday, I’m happy for you! I netted our persimmon tree, but after lunch took a look to see the net flapping in the wind! The tree survived, I have to check tomorrow to see if the fruit is still there. I hope so, the tree is loaded this year.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Rainyday, a typhoon in Kumamoto many years ago half blew down my peach tree. My BIL and I tied a rope around it and, using a nearby bamboo stalk as a fulcrum, pulled it back up. The tree is now some 20 years old and in great health. Good luck with your apple!

And sympathies from Kumamoto to all those who have suffered damage in this typhoon.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A large area of my city has no power, we do though, but there is nothing but darkness for as far as we can see.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If a branch or not so big trunk half snaps, you can bend it straight again, drill a hole through, and fix it with a bolt. New cells will form in the "wound" and the tree will grow around the bolt, just like a grafted tree.

What wild images today. Regarding the "biggest" and the warnings, it may be a simple case of definitions. This typhoon has brought incredibly strong winds, the biggest I can remember seeing on the tv, but not huge amounts of concentrated rain which would cause flooding or landslides (fingers crossed). They seem to be the main form of typhoon destruction.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

That top picture is ridiculous!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

That top picture is ridiculous!

Yes an amazing demonstration of the power of nature. It’s always better to be a little overly cautious during a hurricane or any other similarly powerful natural event. Government warnings can be overly cautious because they have to be so they can avoid loss of life and of course - blame. If people use at least some common sense and play it safe they will be fine - you only have one life. Wishing everyone in the storms path the best.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

That picture of huge wave with boats is amazing.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Great photo.I sat this one out with a few tall bottles of Asahi 633mls.Was reallly strong.In my garden a tree blew ,the sign of my school was flapping in the wind and a fence came lose.And that was just in Nagoya.Hope vevryone is well

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I checked the situation at the airport,Kansai is closed up until the 5th-after that I’ll be in contact with them again

1 ( +1 / -0 )

BIGGER TYPHOON OFTEN SAY BIGGER EARTHQUAKE

°

So Tokyo and the south japan should check the emergency drills and do the necessary repair, because both tend to come together.

°

NCM

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

@ kohakuebisu, ref the tree branch, ive never heard of such a thing, your talking rubbish, the branch is snapped, it will not be able at any time to support it self, it will be always structurally impaired.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Kansai Airport has been an engineering and financial disaster from the beginning. Plagued by sinking, flooding and still in debt by around 8 billion dollars, and now this. Building a huge airport on a manmade island fairly far away from the mainland was aimed at impressing people, but the planners seemed to have ignored the dangers.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The Kansai Airport has been an engineering and financial disaster from the beginning. Plagued by sinking, flooding and still in debt by around 8 billion dollars, and now this. Building a huge airport on a manmade island fairly far away from the mainland was aimed at impressing people, but the planners seemed to have ignored the dangers.

And this says someone from a country with a shaky infrastructure, billions of potholes nation wide and where they are unable to deal with natural disasters in a proper way ...

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

So, climate change has become a climate crisis. 

Expect lots of meetings and teeth sucking. 

At Toyota, Nissan and Honda they’ll decide to build more cars.

There's a country where at least 62 million peeps agree with their Leader that climate change is fake news :)

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@ JeffLee

I'm not American.

Sodesu, gomen ne otoko...

the Kansai Airport has been an engineering and financial disaster from the beginning. Plagued by sinking, flooding

It survived earthquakes and typhoons during 24 years with limited damage.

and still in debt by around 8 billion dollars,

It costed twice as budgeted so that's obvious..

and now this.

Some water washed over the dykes by the largest typhoon in 25 years..

Building a huge airport on a manmade island fairly far away from the mainland was aimed at impressing people,

Building a manmade island for an airport in a densed country is a smart move. That some people are impressed about the airport is another thing but not the driver for starting such a project...

but the planners seemed to have ignored the dangers.

The island sinks faster than they thought so they underestimated some geological aspects which is something different than ignoring the dangers..

Building in a geological unstable part of the world is facing more challenges than elsewhere but the Japanese have proven that they can do it.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

netgrump said - "...The island sinks faster than they thought so they underestimated some geological aspects which is something different than ignoring the dangers...."

Actually this is wrong. Many experts warned about the siting. One point in particular was the seafloor was not suitable for supporting such a construction.

Apparently the Kobe airport - just kms away - was sited on a completely different substrata so doesn't have the same ongoing problems of kanku.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Actually this is wrong. Many experts warned about the siting.

About 'many experts' I give you the benefit of the doubt as I couldn't find anything on that issue.

> One point in particular was the seafloor was not suitable for supporting such a construction.

'was not suitable' is vague...

Any seafloor can be made suitable except for places where there's geological activity.

As the airport survived nearby earthquakes your point is questionable..

A phrase from a 1990 Washington Post article that might support your point:

We tried to persuade them that America had some of the best soil engineers in the world." But the Japanese, Smart recalled, "kept saying that their conditions were unique to Japan and there was no question of hiring anyone else to do the {island-building} work."

As I stated that the Japanese are capable to build in a geological unstable environment I'm also aware that the making of an artificial island at sea needs special engineering skills. The article points that out clearly as the island was already sinking years before the airport was opened.

I should have known better as my home country delivers great expertise on that field. [HK Airport, Dubai, Singapore etc. ]

That the Americans 'had some of the best soil engineers in the world' was maybe true....once.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1990/12/25/japanese-chagrined-by-sinking-airport-site/f9849d3b-4cff-4dcd-af11-c87886b9d9fd/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.dc4a5240391e

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

A very quick search found these bits.

No seabed can be made 100% stable and figuring into that equation the random elements of high strong typhoon, earthquake and tsunami propensity in the Osaka Bay, compounded by the fact of active liquefaction and you have a recipe for disaster.

Air & Space Magazine   June 2018

“When the Kansai airport was constructed, the amount of soil to reclaim the land was determined based on necessary ground level and subsidence estimation over 50 years after the construction,” says Yukako Handa, communications director for Kansai Airports, which manages Kansai’s two artificial islands as well as the original Osaka Itami airport on the mainland. Handa says that engineers simply couldn’t believe that there would be such a difference between laboratory estimates of the rate of consolidation—the process by which new layers of soil harden into a stable foundation—and the actual rate, once thousands of tons of fill had been deposited into the bay………... Work to create the islands of Kansai began in 1987. By 1990, when the first island had sunk 27 feet instead of the predicted 19, engineers became alarmed……….…. Handa says there is no official estimated life calculated for Kansai. But Gholamreza Mesri, a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, predicts that island 2 could reach its warning point of 13 feet above sea level as early as 2023. If a typhoon strikes Kansai directly and waves slip over its sea wall, its runways and buildings will lie below water.

 

Just a quick bit hinting at the debacle that is KanKu.

https://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/how-to-save-a-sinking-airport-180968985/#eGz7DOAmzYjuv8Wq.99

 

And from elsewhere

……….The uncertainty for the construction came from the layer of clay lying below the alluvial clay. This clay was called dialluvial clay and extended about one thousand feet down. The compressibility of this clay was uncertain and because of its depth nothing could be done to modify that compressibility.

The airport authorities had a number of experts estimate how much the airport island would sink as a result of the weight of its weight. The estimates ranged from 19 feet to 25 feet.

The official looked at the estimates of the degree of sinking and did what now seems to have been the worse possible thing. They accepted the smallest estimate, 19 feet, in what appears to have been wishful thinking. The design of the airport was then based upon a sinking of 19 feet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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