Over 100 Flights Canceled in Japan as Two Tropical Storms Approach

SadaNews - More than 100 flights were canceled on Friday as two tropical storms approached Japan, while authorities recommended the evacuation of some areas due to the risk of flooding and landslides.

The storm "Mikala" is approaching, accompanied by strong winds that can reach speeds of up to 144 kilometers per hour, according to meteorological experts, while heavy rains have begun to fall in some areas of southern and western Japan.

The storm is expected to focus along the islands of Kyushu and Shikoku over the weekend, and it may merge with the storm "Higous," which is hitting farther regions in the Pacific. This merging could lead to the "Fujiwara effect," a phenomenon that occurs when two storms interact, making it difficult to predict their movement and strength.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have canceled 70 and 50 flights, respectively, to and from the Okinawa and Kagoshima regions. The authorities in the Kyoto region have recommended the evacuation of thousands of residents, warning of the possibility of landslides.

The authorities in Kyoto and Osaka announced that levels of major rivers are rising, calling for caution and vigilance against the risk of flooding.

Meanwhile, the Kyodo news agency reported that the Japanese military canceled the first scheduled flight of an MV-22 Osprey to Miyako Island, which was part of joint military exercises with the United States.