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Thousands evacuated as typhoon Ampil comes hurtling to Tokyo area

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Residents in parts of Japan have been ordered to evacuate as Typhoon Ampil approaches the Tokyo area, with some homes already experiencing power outages, CNN reports. The storm, currently 121 nautical miles southeast of Yokosuka in Greater Tokyo, has intensified to the strength of a Category 4 hurricane, with winds reaching up to 212 kilometers per hour (131 mph) as it moves northward.

Typhoon Ampil has rapidly strengthened over the last two days, fueled by very warm ocean waters, which have increased the moisture in the atmosphere, according to CNN. The storm is expected to continue intensifying over the next 12 hours, potentially reaching its peak as it nears Japan.

In anticipation of the typhoon's impact, authorities in Isumi, a coastal city, have issued evacuation orders to nearly 17,000 households, particularly advising vulnerable residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, to seek safety, as reported by CNN citing public broadcaster NHK.

The storm is forecasted to hit the area late on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall. A similar evacuation notice has been issued in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, with authorities urging all residents to be prepared to evacuate.

By Friday morning, as the storm intensified with increasing rain and wind, more than a thousand households had lost power, according to TEPCO, the local electricity provider. In response to the approaching danger, railways and airlines have canceled services, disrupting travel during the peak summer season.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have canceled approximately 500 flights in total, affecting travel at Haneda and Narita airports, as well as Kansai, Osaka, and Chubu airports. The flight cancellations have impacted about 90,000 passengers, according to Japanese media. Major highways are also facing potential closures.

Japan’s rail network is also affected, with six bullet train lines either suspending services or warning of significant delays, including the Tokaido line, a key route connecting Tokyo and Osaka. The Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Nagoya have been halted for the entire day, and other bullet trains in northeastern Japan and local Tokyo trains are operating on modified schedules.

Typhoon Ampil is expected to pass near Tokyo in the evening before moving north, bringing stormy conditions to the northern Kanto and Tohoku regions early Saturday. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported sustained winds of 162 kph (101 mph) with higher gusts on Friday morning, and the storm is moving north at 20 kph (12 mph). Although Ampil is not expected to make landfall, it will likely weaken to a tropical storm by Sunday.

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