Japan. Typhoon Lan. Almost 240,000 people were evacuated. Flights canceled

The typhoon hit the southern tip of Wakayama Prefecture, about 400 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, on Tuesday morning. The winds then reached 160 kilometers per hour, which corresponds to the strength of a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. At least 26 people were injured in five prefectures in the western part of the country, Japanese television NHK reported. Authorities issued evacuation orders for more than 240,000 people.

The element also brought torrential rains. In Tottori and Okayama prefectures, Tuesday’s rainfall exceeded the monthly average for August, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. In the city of Tottori, 483 liters of water fell per square meter, and in the city of Kagamino – 461.5 liters per square meter.

More than 950 flights across the country have been canceled due to the violent weather, a spokesman for Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism told CNN. The typhoon also caused power outages to tens of thousands of homes, NHK television reported.

Authorities have issued flood, landslide and tornado warnings. They also announced that evacuation centers have been set up for residents of 11 prefectures threatened by the element.