Japan typhoon leaves trail of destruction, 9 dead

At least nine people have died after Typhoon Jebi, one of the most powerful storms to hit Japan in 25 years, swept across the country's western regions, causing widespread flooding, power outages and transport disruptions.

The typhoon made landfall on Tuesday afternoon and battered areas including Osaka and Kyoto with powerful winds and heavy rain. By Wednesday, evacuation advisories had been issued for more than 1.2 million people, according to the BBC.

More than 30,000 people were also placed under stronger evacuation orders, although the orders were not mandatory, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Kansai International Airport in Osaka was among the worst-affected locations. The airport, built on an artificial island, was cut off from the mainland after a tanker was pushed into the bridge connecting it to the coast.

Around 3,000 passengers stranded at the airport were being transported by boat to another airport, an official said. Flooding affected the airport's runways and basement areas, forcing it to remain closed throughout Wednesday.

The storm caused major disruption to Japan's transport network, with hundreds of flights, trains and ferry services cancelled. Nearly 800 flights, including international services at Osaka and Nagoya, were cancelled as authorities struggled to deal with the impact of the storm.

The typhoon also caused widespread damage to infrastructure and disrupted electricity supplies. More than two million households lost power, while schools and businesses in affected areas remained closed as a precaution.

Videos shared on social media showed the scale of Jebi's powerful winds, including footage of a roughly 100-metre-high Ferris wheel in Osaka rotating rapidly despite being switched off.

Although the storm was weakening and moving north, authorities continued to warn residents to remain cautious because of the risk of landslides and flooding.

Jebi's impact highlighted the vulnerability of densely populated urban areas and critical transport infrastructure to increasingly severe weather events. Authorities continued rescue and recovery operations while urging residents in affected areas to follow evacuation and safety instructions.