Travel

Return to normal after typhoon lashes Japan

TOKYO, Aug 16 (NHK) - Life is returning to normal in Tokyo and surrounding areas after a powerful storm. Typhoon Ampil triggered blackouts and upended people's travel plans, but services are getting back on track.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the typhoon is to the east of Fukushima Prefecture, away from the Pacific coast of Japan's main island. The typhoon was moving northeast at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, as of noon Saturday.

The storm had a central atmospheric pressure of 955 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour near its center and gusts reaching 216 kilometers per hour.

Authorities are still warning of landslides, flooding and overflowing rivers in Fukushima Prefecture.

The typhoon disrupted travel throughout Japan at a time when many people plan their summer holidays.

Central Japan Railway halted all Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya on Friday. The company says the schedule returned to normal on Saturday.

Other lines including the Tohoku and Sanyo bullet trains have also resumed full operations from the first train.

"My kids have a karate competition in Tokyo," a father said. "We just arrived because the Shinkansen was canceled yesterday."

"Our flight to Ibaraki was the day the typhoon hit the Kanto region," another man said. "I was a little worried about whether we would be able to get home."

There are still some disruptions to air travel. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines say they have cancelled 68 domestic flights for Saturday.

Energy company officials say power has been restored in most areas.

Source: TBS

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