TOKYO, October 6. /TASS/. Russia’s aviation carrier Aeroflot continues operating flights from Moscow to Tokyo and back despite the Phanfone typhoon, TASS learned from the company’s representation on Monday.
Japanese authorities have ordered the evacuation of almost 700,000 people in the central part of the country, hit by powerful Typhoon Phanfone.
More than 620 flights have been cancelled and traffic has been suspended on the Shinkansen high-speed railways linking the capital Tokyo and Nagoya, and also other lines. Tokyo’s authorities have cut the number of trains in the city’s underground. Schools are closed in the areas affected by the typhoon.
The Toyota Corporation has cancelled day shifts at its twelve plants in Honshu. The Honda Company told the workers they may come to the plant later - when the typhoon abates.
Three US troops were washed off on the northern coast in Okinawa Island on Sunday. One of them was later found dead, while two others are believed to have gone missing. In the Kanagawa Prefecture, a student of 21 who tried to surf the stormy waves is considered missing.
Typhoon Phanfone, which means ‘Animal’ in the Laotian language, has hit the main part of Japan’s territory in the area of Hamamatsu, in western Shizuoka Prefecture, and is now heading to the north with the wind speed of almost 40 m/s.
The waves in coastal areas reach the height of eleven meters. The typhoon has brought powerful rains to central Japan, including Tokyo, and authorities warn of possible landslides and floods.
Now, the typhoon is crossing the area of Japan’s capital city with population of about 30 million and moves towards north-east, losing the might gradually.