Typhoon Hagibis: The Untold Story

Japan is currently full of hype: as hosts of the Rugby World Cup (RWC), the country is reveling in high spirits and immense economic benefits, especially after the national team became quarter-finalists for the first time in history. However, on the other side, the country is also facing the disastrous effects of Typhoon Hagibis, which has caused over 50 deaths so far.

For Japan, having endured multiple typhoons in the past month, Typhoon Hagibis was only fuel to the fire. With wind speeds of over 200 kilometers per hour, this disaster brought severe damages to affected regions. Countless electricity poles were knocked down, causing extensive blackouts and water cut-offs. Nine rivers overflowed due to severe rainfall, leading to uncontrollable floods sweeping over many local homes. Agricultural businesses have also been harmed significantly in farmland areas.

Typhoon Hagibis also hindered many public transportation services. While it is often typical to have trains and buses terminate their services unexpectedly, Japan proposed a new solution in preparation for typhoon season: scheduled cancellations. Prior to the typhoon’s peak, train companies announced the time frames in which they scheduled the termination of their services. The primary aim of this newly introduced solution was to prevent overcrowding within train stations, as well as to allow office workers to contact their workplaces about their tardies or absences. However, during and after the typhoon, this solution backfired as it caused more chaos in train stations once the scheduled cancellation ended.

On the brighter side, there have been numerous efforts to help regions recover from the aftermath of the typhoon. The Japanese government is sending over 100,000 rescuers to aid the cleaning process of roads and homes. The Canadian rugby team, who had their World Cup match canceled due to the typhoon, volunteered to help local families in a particular affected region.

However, many still remain without shelter or access to water. Large scale typhoons form at a frequent pace in costal areas of Asia. This case of Hagibis certainly brings attention to the catastrophic impacts that these natural disasters can have. As inhabitants of China, a country which also experiences numerous typhoons, it may be wise for us to take lessons from Japan on how to prepare for such natural disasters.

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