Typhoon Man-Yi has hit southern Japan causing fears that the Fukushima nuclear plant may be impacted. Man-Yi is the 18th typhoon this season, bringing heavy rains and officials are warning citizens in different parts of the country of flooding and very strong winds. Central Japan Railway Co. temporarily suspended their bullet-train services near Tokyo as the vicious typhoon quickly approached the nation’s capital. Around 200 domestic flights have been cancelled as well, mostly those that were planning to depart from Tokyo.
The tropical storm that is a high threat to Japan’s citizens originated in Pacific waters close to the southern island of Shikoku. It has been increasing in size and at times obtaining wind speeds of up to 144 kilometers per hour. According to the New Zealand Herald, it was on a direct course to hit southern of the main island Honshu on Monday morning. Next on its course, it was predicted that it would head northeast toward the capital, crossing the northeast and the area near Fukushima.
Fukushima continues to deal with an immense struggle attempting to control the radioactive materials that leaked into the Pacific Ocean during the earthquake and tsumani that hit in 2011. It is a story that has been resurfacing in the mainstream media lately and scaring a lot of people, as it continues to contaminate the water. This has caused the fish in multiple areas to be too dangerous to eat.
A flood warning was issued to residents near the Kokai river in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. There was also an earlier flood warning for the Meguro river, which has since been lifted, states Bloomberg.com. Before hitting Japan, the storm had already delivered strong winds and heavy rain in the south and east, although no major damage was reported. Warnings for flooding, heavy rain, mudslides and high ocean waves have all been issued by the weather agency to areas along the Pacific coast.
Man-yi typhoon is no joke.Really windy, been shaking the windows and house all morning.opened window to look out and got soaked. Be careful
— Ryan Spilborghs (@spillygoat19) September 15, 2013
As the storm continues to damage parts of Japan, more contaminated water is expected to seep into the groundwater as well and problem of the radioactive waste from the Fukushima plant is scaring people around the world. If the water continues to be polluted at this rate, it could be unsafe to swim in a matter of a few years.
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