Nine million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as super typhoon Nanmadol slammed into Japan on Sunday.
Almost 350,000 homes are without power and tens of thousands were forced to spend Sunday night in emergency shelters as one of the largest typhoons in history hit Japan’s southern island, Kyushu, according to the BBC. Two people were killed and almost 90 were injured thus far, the outlet noted.
Local news reports stated that one man was killed after his car was submerged in flood waters, while another died after being buried by a landslide, the BBC continued. Local videos show flood waters surging through towns and cities, with floodwaters hitting subway stations and other area transport services.
The typhoon was categorized in Japan as a super typhoon, the equivalent of a category four or five hurricane, the outlet reported. Shocking photographs from space shared Saturday on Twitter show the sheer scale of the storm.
It’s incredible how something that seems so beautiful from space can be so terrible on Earth…Praying for the safety of those in the path of Typhoon Nanmadol. pic.twitter.com/4xambFgtj6
— Bob “Farmer” Hines (@Astro_FarmerBob) September 17, 2022
Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to strike the main island of Honshu over the coming week, forcing transport and business disruptions across the country, the BBC continued. Bullet train services, ferries, and flights have been cancelled as Japan braces for potentially 16 inches of rain in some areas in less than a 24-hour period, the BBC reported. (RELATED: Hurricane Season Is Upon Us, And It’s Going To Be A Big One)
Locals are placing sandbags in an attempt to protect properties and businesses, the BBC noted. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delayed his speech at the United Nations General Assembly until Tuesday to monitor further effects of the superstorm, the BBC reported.