Japan Braces for Typhoon Ampil: Flights Grounded, Thousands Evacuated

Japan grounded hundreds of flights and ordered nearly 10,000 households to evacuate near Tokyo, as Typhoon Ampil caused power blackouts during a major summer holiday week.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which classified Ampil as 'very strong,' indicated the storm was off Japan's main island as of 8:50 a.m. Friday (2350 GMT Thursday).

Fierce winds are expected in the Kanto region, including Tokyo, potentially causing injuries from flying debris. Mobara City in Chiba Prefecture ordered 18,500 residents to evacuate, while other cities advised voluntary evacuation and opened special centers. The Tokyo Electric Power said over 2,000 households experienced blackouts, and airline companies canceled significant numbers of domestic and international flights, impacting tens of thousands of passengers. High-speed 'Shinkansen' bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya were also halted.

(With inputs from agencies.)