Photo of Typhoon Talas (2011-12)

After leaving the catastrophic damages mainly in Wakayama, South of Nara and South of Mie Pref, Typhoon Talas is now downgraded to tropical depression.

However, there are still some evacuation advisories and orders in place. In addition, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) gives warning to Hokkaido for the potential historic rain storm since 1981.

From Tuesday, September 6, various weather forecast agencies says, the most area of Japan starts clear up and back to normal. (But a lot of clean-up to do in affected area).

The article was first posted at 11:00pm and revised at 11:42pm on Monday, September 5 (JST).

Hokkaido rain warning

According to NHK, JMA held the press conference in the afternoon of Monday, September 5, 2011. The tropical depression (formerly Typhoon Talas (2011-12)), and Typhoon Noru (2011-13) are moving towards north on the West and East of Hokkaido. The tropical depression and Noru are bringing the humid air and the humid air may meet at Hokkaido, and may bring the historical rain storm.

According to Sapporo District Meteorological Observatory, the pattern is very similar to the rain storm in August 1981.

In 1981, Typhoon Phyllis (1981-12) traveled through east of Japan, and a warm front brought the humid air. And then it met on top of Hokkaido between August 3 and 5, 1981. It brought 410 mm (16 inches) of rainfall in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido. In addition, Typhoon Thad (1981-15) hit Hokkaido between August 21 through 23.

Two major typhoons double-punched Hokkaido resulted in 10 casualties. And over 50,000 buildings were flooded.

If you are currently in Hokkaido, please pay attention to the warnings from authorities. And evacuate immediately if you feel unsafe.

At this point, no actual damages were reported. It may not leave any damages. But it's always good to be prepared rather than unprepared.

Catastrophic damages in Wakayama, South of Nara and South of Mie & evacuation advisories and orders are still in place

As times passes, the damages from Typhoon Talas (2011-12) started being revealed.

According to NHK as at 9:55pm on September 5, 33 people are dead and 54 people are still missing.

Wakayama: 21 death and 32 missing

Nara: 4 death and 20 missing.

Mie: 2 death

Tokushima: 3 death

Ehime: 1 death

Kagawa: 1 death

Hiroshima: 1 death

HyogoL 1 missing

Kagoshima: 1 missing

In Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, Mayor Shinichi Teramoto, lost his daughter on the day of her engagement ceremony. His wife is still missing. His house is completely gone. However, he hasn't gone back to his house. After seeing his daughter's body for 30min, he has come back to work against the disaster.

According to Ministry of Land, they have the rain gauge in Kamikitayama, Nara. It had recorded 2,400 mm of rainfall in 5 days since August 30, which is the 2/3 of the annual average.

Although the weather became calm among the most of West Japan, unstable land condition leaves the threat of landslide.

In Totsukawa, Nara, the landlides stopped the stream of the river and formed the natural dam. Totsukawa city hall gave the warning that the natural dam could collapse at any moment (As at 10:45pm 9/5 (JST))

In Kiho-cho, Mie, there are still 30 residents isolated in the mountain area due to the landslide (10:54pm 9/5 (JST))

Evacuation advisories and orders are still effective to over 9,000 households in 5 prefectures such as Wakayama, Mie, Nara.

According to NTT West, over 43,000 landlines are out of services in some area of Wakayama, Nara and Mie as the night of September 5.

The mobile phone services are also experiencing the availability issues in part of Wakayama, Nara, Mie, Ehime, Okayama and Gunma.

Preparing against Typhoon

In case of typhoon disaster

• Know nearby evaculation center
• Tell your friends and family to get contact point besides telephone
  • YokosoNews recommend
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Skype
    • NOT cellular phone or landline
    • Telephone line should be used for immediate emergency calls
• Buy a portable radio and batteries
• Don't leave any easy-to-be-flown objects outside of your house
• Check the weather forecast extra carefully and more frequently
• Expect the delays or cancellations of the public transportation and road closure

What not to do

• Don't go close to river.
• Don't go close to ocean.
• Don't go close to mountain or cliff where the possibility of landslides.
• Don't do anything that you are not 100% sure that it's safe

Useful weather info sites

• JMA Tropical Cyclone Information
• JMA Weather Warnings / Advisory

Ask YokosoNews

If the typhoon gets serious, YokosoNews will provide up-to-date weather forecast via Twitter and Facebook, and may start emergency broadcast at YokosoNews.tv .

You're welcome to leave a  comment in this page, Facebook or mention @YokosoNews on Twitter if you want to know about the particular region.

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