A typhoon hit Japan on Monday morning, according to FOX News. The storm that is being called Man-yi brought heavy rains with officials warning of floods and strong winds.
There are fears that the storm may hit the area where the Fukushima nuclear plant is located, an area already crippled by the radiation leaks that resulted from a tsunami that occurred as the result of an earthquake in 2011.
Approximately 200 domestic flights scheduled for Monday, which is a public holiday in Japan, were canceled. The cancellations mainly affected flights departing from Tokyo. Train services were also reduced due to the storm.
The typhoon is near southern Japan, near the island of Shikoku, and has wind gusts that are reaching up to 90 miles per hour. The storm is moving north-northwest, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The storm is currently on a course to hit the southern parts of the main island, Honshu, on Monday, around 9 a.m., according to the agency. The storm is then expected to move northeast towards the capital city of Tokyo and the surrounding region around noon, when it will cross the northeast, which will include the Fukushima area, based on its currently predicted path.
Crews at the nuclear plant have tried to contain the plant after the damage resulting from 2011's natural disaster, when groundwater contaminated with radioactive materials went into the Pacific Ocean.
The rain on Monday may cause additional contaminated water to seep into groundwater. Workers are trying to pump the water from the areas surrounding the radioactive tanks to prevent this from occurring.
So far, no major damage has occurred, though the south and east of the country have suffered strong winds and heavy rain.
There have also been warnings issued for the areas along the Pacific coast for flooding, heavy rain, mudslides and high waves.
Long range forecast on the impact of Man-yi.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
