Japan has cancelled hundreds of flights and numerous trains in the Tokyo area and is preparing for the arrival of a very strong storm near the capital on Friday.

Typhoon Ampil has been gaining intensity over the past two days and reached Category 4 hurricane strength on Friday morning.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the typhoon as “very strong” and authorities ordered about 10,000 households to evacuate in some areas near Tokyo.

The storm is expected to bring heavy rains and winds as it passes the island nation.

On Friday morning, the typhoon was off the Pacific coast of the Japanese main island, 300 kilometers south of Tokyo.

According to the JMA, Ampil reaches wind speeds of 45 meters per second with maximum gusts of 60 meters per second (216 km/h).

“Strong winds are expected in the Kanto region, which could cause injuries from flying debris or even overturn moving trucks,” the JMA warned on its website.

Thousands are being asked to evacuate to minimize the storm’s impact

Typhoon Ampil is expected to reach waters near Tokyo on Friday evening and then move northward. The Kanto and Tohoku regions are expected to reach stormy conditions by Saturday morning.

The city of Mobara in Chiba Prefecture in the Kanto region issued an evacuation order for about 18,500 residents.

Several other cities have issued voluntary evacuation recommendations and authorities have set up special evacuation centers.

Authorities have warned people to stay away from rivers and beaches and to watch out for flying debris.

Yamato Transport, which makes deliveries to Amazon and other transport companies in Japan, said there would be no deliveries in Tokyo and surrounding affected areas on Friday and Saturday.

A power outage occurred in Tokyo’s neighboring prefectures, leaving a total of 1,700 households without electricity.

Ampil was not expected to make landfall and was expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Sunday.

Typhoon spoils holiday mood

The typhoon struck as Japan celebrates the annual “Obon” week, an important holiday season when millions of people return to their hometowns.

According to local media reports, around 90,000 passengers were affected as several flights were temporarily suspended at Tokyo’s two airports, Haneda and Narita, and there were also disruptions at Kansai, Osaka and Chubu airports.

All Shinkansen high-speed trains between Tokyo and Japan’s industrial heartland Nagoya have also been cancelled.

dvv/rm (AFP, AP, Reuters)