A slow-moving storm has been causing chaos in northern Japan with heavy rains, swollen rivers, and disrupted traffic during a Japanese Buddhist holiday week. The storm, formerly known as Typhoon Maria, has weakened with winds blowing at 90 kph (56 mph) after making landfall near Ofunato City in Iwate prefecture Monday morning. It is projected to move northwest at 15 kph (9 mph) across the Tohoku region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Although no damages or injuries have been reported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, authorities are warning about the potential for flooding and mudslides. They have advised around 170,000 residents in Iwate, Aomori, and Miyagi prefectures to seek shelter. In the city of Kuji, Iwate, 46 centimeters (18 inches) of rain have fallen in the past two days, and an additional 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) of rain is expected by Tuesday morning.
NHK public television aired footage showing pedestrians near a swollen river in Iwaizumi, where a typhoon caused deadly flooding at a nursing home in 2016. This storm marks the first landfall in the Tohoku region since the 2016 typhoon. A woman at an Iwaizumi shelter mentioned to NHK that she sought refuge early after her house was destroyed during the prior typhoon.
The storm is also impacting travel during the Obon holiday, a period where people honor their ancestors. Local train services have been suspended, and domestic flights at various area airports have been either suspended or delayed due to the storm’s effects.