Hundreds of people have been injured and at least ten have died following Typhoon Jebi which hit Japan late yesterday evening. The storm has been described as the worst to hit Japan in 25 years.
Typhoon Jebi swept across western Japan hitting the capital, Kyoto and popular tourist destination, Osaka
More than 1.6 million households have been left without power and as the storm moved north on Wednesday morning over a million people were advised to evacuate the area. Floods and landslide warnings have also been announced.
Abandoned vehicles, high water volumes and debris mean many roads are inaccessible and the main road bridge connecting the airport to the mainland has been damaged after a tanker was repeatedly thrown into the side of the structure. Luckily the crew on board did not sustain any injuries.
Jebi has caused major disruption to air and rail travel with over 700 domestic and international flights being cancelled as well as many train services. Ferry’s have also been cancelled due to the typhoon.
Those due to travel to Japan should check the status of their flight with the airline and, if cancelled, arrange alternative transport.
Travel insurance generally will not offer cover for natural disasters but policy holders should check to see if they have force majeure, natural disaster or catastrophic event cover. You can read more about this here.
The typhoon comes just a few months after Japan suffered a string of floods and landslides killing 200 people. Heatwaves also caused problems for locals, and several people lost their lives due to the extreme temperatures.
Although typhoons are not uncommon in Japan, the damage caused by Jebi is a rare occurrence. As the storm settles rescue crews will be searching for anyone who may have been trapped in debris.
It is not yet known when flights in and out of Japan’s major cities will resume.