Evacuation ordered in northern Japan, power out, flights, trains canceled as a typhoon approaches

Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Thousands of people in northern Japan were ordered to evacuate because of risks of flooding and mudslides from a powerful typhoon approaching in the Pacific Ocean. Flights and trains in the Tokyo area were canceled Friday as warnings were issued for strong winds and heavy rainfall from Typhoon Ampil. The storm is forecast to reach waters near Tokyo in the evening and then continue north. It is not expected to make landfall. Power was out in more than 5,000 households, mostly in coastal Chiba and Ibaraki Prefectures, east of Tokyo, but also in Saitama to the north. An evacuation order was sent to more than 320,000 residents of the city of Iwaki in Fukushima prefecture in northern Japan.