Typhoon Jebi hammers Japan – in pictures
Typhoon Jebi has lashed down on Japan's western coast, bringing some of the most powerful winds and rainfall in a quarter century. Residents in the affected areas, including Kobe and Osaka, have been ordered to evacuate.
Jebi hits western Japan
Typhoon Jebi made landfall on the southwestern island of Shikoku, Japan's smallest main island, shortly after noon local time before going on to rake across on the western coast of Honshu, the largest island. Meteorologists recorded sustained wind speeds of 100 miles-per-hour (162 kilometers-per-hour) and gusts of 134 mph.
Locals ordered to evacuate
With rainfall and winds increasing in intensity, Japanese authorities urged over 1 million locals in affected areas to evacuate. Residents in the city of Osaka (pictured above) got a taste of the heavy rain that was to follow while on their way to work Tuesday morning.
Stranded
The strong wind pushed a 2,591-ton tanker from its mooring into the side of a bridge connecting the mainland to Osaka's Kansai International Airport, which is located on an artificial island. The impact left the bridge impassable, stranding around 3,000 passengers at the airport.
Airport under water
The Kansai International Airport was partly inundated after the typhoon swept across Japan. Parts of the airport's runways were flooded, making it impossible to restore air traffic after Jebi passed over.
Twisted structures
Violent winds also ripped away part of the ceiling from Kyoto station and toppled multistory scaffolding on a building in Osaka. Elsewhere, cars were turned on their sides and strewn across roads.
No one getting in or out
Around 600 flights were canceled as soon as Jebi began making landfall. Osaka airport was effectively shut down, with authorities unable to determine when flights would resume.
All bullet trains canceled, stations evacuated
All Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Japan's major cities and hubs along the western coast on Honshu were suspended Tuesday. Passengers were ordered to evacuate the stations and find shelter where they could. Universal Studios Japan, a hugely popular amusement park near Osaka, was closed for the rest of the day.
Lorries knocked over
The typhoon caused major damage to vehicles on the road. Before it made landfall, some drivers abandoned their vehicles for fear of potentially-fatal wind gusts. On one bridge, two lorries were tipped on their sides.
Making a mess
While Tokyo is far from the eye of the typhoon, it was also hit by powerful winds and rain. Street advertisements and trash cans were caught up in the gusts, but little damage has been reported so far in the Japanese capital.
Grin and bear it
The fierce winds made going out in Tokyo somewhat of a challenge, though some braved the elements. The storm is expected to pass over Japan early Wednesday and head toward southeastern Russia before dissipating.
Summer of deadly weather
Jebi is just the latest deadly weather event in Japan. In July, torrential rain in the country's southwest triggered landslides and mass floods. Officials said the destruction killed 226 people and left 10 missing, making it the worst weather-related disaster in over 30 years. An ensuing heat wave, with temperatures surging over 40 degrees Celsius (104 F), is thought to have killed 130 people.