Japan Cancel Flights Ahead Of Typhoon Krosa Scare

Dozens of flights and some bullet trains operating within Japan have, Wednesday, been cancelled as severe tropical storm Krosa bore down on the country’s south-western flank.

The transportation services were halted on forecasts for sustained winds of as much as 69 miles per hour as the storm makes landfall on Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency website.

The tropical storm is approaching just as many Japanese are visiting their hometowns for the traditional Bon holiday this week.

Japan Airlines Co. had cancelled 62 domestic flights as of early Wednesday, affecting about 4,680 passengers, while Japan Air Commuter Co. and ANA Holdings Inc.’s All Nippon Airways also grounded some of their flights.

Bullet train services between Osaka, a major business hub and the country’s largest city after Tokyo, and Kokura in Fukuoka prefecture for Thursday were also cancelled on concern the storm could interfere with operation, West Japan Railway Co. said.

Toyota Motor Corp. said its plants haven’t been affected because they are closed for the holiday, while Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. were not able to comment immediately as public relations offices were closed.

Similarly, this is coming days after China declared a red alert over Typhoon Lekima.