Japan Flights cancelled as massive typhoon nears Korean peninsula

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

Perilous Times and Climate Change

Japan Flights cancelled as massive typhoon nears Korean peninsula

    * From: AFP
    * August 31, 2010 5:46PM


JAPAN has cancelled more than 200 flights and many ferry services to its southern islands as a super typhoon churned in before likely heading toward the Korean peninsula this week.

Typhoon Kompasu, packing gusts of up to 216 kilometres per hour near its centre, was approaching Okinawa and nearby subtropical islands in the country's far south, the Japan meteorological agency said.

The agency issued a warning of heavy rains and strong gales, and warned residents to be on alert against possible landslides and floods.

The typhoon was moving northwest at a speed of 20km/h through the East China Sea and on its current course could hit the Korean peninsula around Thursday, the agency said.

At least 216 flights were cancelled, affecting more than 15,000 passengers, while most local ferry services were suspended, local media reported.