Typhoon Jangmi, also known as Typhoon No. 6, moved northwards over the course of this week, bringing sustained wind speeds of 80mph (130kph) to Japan on Monday. The storm, classified as a category 1 typhoon, caused widespread damage and disruption across the country.
Impact on Japan
From Okinawa to mainland Japan, prolonged and heavy rainfall led to landslide warnings and river flooding. Japan issued level 4 warnings for some rivers, indicating a risk of overflowing, which prompted municipalities to issue evacuation orders. By Wednesday, 23 people had been injured, with 17 of those injuries occurring in Okinawa. The typhoon damaged 57 homes and caused power outages for 60,000 households. Authorities advised 1.52 million people to evacuate their homes.
In Tokyo's Chiyoda district, three-hourly rainfall totals reached 105mm on Wednesday, setting a new record for the month. The typhoon also damaged the exterior wall of Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in western Japan, where the maximum recorded wind speed was 56mph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Storm Weakening
The typhoon has since weakened into a tropical depression and moved eastwards, away from the Japanese islands. The threat of further damage has diminished, but recovery efforts continue in affected areas.
Weather Warnings in the Balkans
Meanwhile, in the Balkans, thunderstorm warnings have been in place this week, with heavy downpours, lightning, and hail expected. In Bulgaria, thunderstorms spread across the western part of the country, including the capital Sofia. A worker was struck by lightning near the village of Kresna in the southwestern mountainous region after weather conditions deteriorated on Thursday morning. Downpours led to widespread flooding, with reports of flooded homes and basements. Daily rainfall totals of 30-35mm were expected on Thursday, with local totals possibly reaching 45-50mm.
In Romania, authorities issued warnings for thunderstorms, heavy showers, hail, and high wind speeds, with gusts of up to 45mph and heavy rainfall that may exceed 30-40mm per hour in some locations.
