The Japan Meteorological Agency activated its special alert Emergency rainfall alert, the highest level of the agency, for the Izu archipelago, south of Tokyo, due to the passage of Typhoon Halong during the early morning.
Authorities warned of life-threatening landslides and asked the population to take extreme precautions while the influence of the system continued over the area.
Position and trajectory of the phenomenon
At 7:00 local time (22:00 GMT the previous day), the center of Halong was located about 70 kilometers east-southeast of Hachijo Island, moving at 25 km/h in an east-northeast direction over the Pacific.
With this advance, the storm was gaining open sea, although bands Rain and wind continued to affect the surrounding islands as the system moved northeast.
Impact on Hachijo and Izu Islands
Hachijo, located about 280 kilometers south of Tokyo, was exposed to very intense gusts and heavy rainfall, which reduced visibility and made surface mobility difficult.
Neighbors spread the word on social media hurricane winds and specific damage to infrastructure, with power outages reported on the island during the episode.
Intensity, gusts and rainfall records
Classified by the JMA as a typhoon of “very strong” intensityHalong reached gusts exceeding 250 km/h, a threshold that explains the severity of its effects on the coast and high-altitude areas.
In Hachijo they were measured 284,5 mm of rain in six hours, a record that shows the risk of flash floods and landslides on saturated slopes.
Official alerts and recommendations
The JMA maintained its message of maximum caution in the event of flooding and mudflows, urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and to remain alert to local warnings while adverse conditions persist, and to be aware of the natural protection offered by mangroves.
Emergency teams stressed that the storm will need to subside to possible damage and impacts on infrastructure and basic services.
Evolution during the day
Already in the afternoon (16:05 local time), the system continued heading northeast and began to gradually lose strength compared to the previous hours.
About nine hours after activation, the Agency lowered its warning from maximum to second most severe level, warning however that wind and waves would remain significant until later in the day.
With the typhoon moving away from the archipelago, authorities remained focused on the channel monitoring, waiting for the intense rainfall and the strongest gusts to finally cease.
The episode has left a mass of debris in Izu and nearby islands. power outages, with emergency services and the JMA monitoring the situation to report any relevant changes.
