Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.

Flights and ferries across Japan's Okinawa Prefecture were cancelled as Jangmi approached on Monday (1 June), with Naha Airport, the prefecture's main international and domestic gateway, closed for the day.

The storm, identified by Japan as Typhoon No. 6, made its closest approach to Okinawa's main island on Monday, bringing the southern part of the island into the storm's danger zone.

Reuters video from Naha showed waves crashing against the shore, plants and palm trees bending in strong winds, empty airport terminals and ferry facilities closed to travellers.

Transport shuts down

Naha Airport authorities said the airport would remain closed on Monday as the severe tropical storm approached. Signs inside the terminal displayed flight cancellations, while footage showed a worker locking terminal doors during heavy rain.

Ferry services were also suspended. Video showed ferries moored in harbour, shuttered ticket desks and a sign reading in Japanese and English: "Due to the high waves, all boats have been cancelled."

An unidentified maintenance worker was filmed boarding up a doorway at the ferry terminal as the storm moved in.

"The strong wind could damage it. Automatic doors are weak so this will protect it," the worker said.

The disruption extended beyond transport. The storm caused widespread power outages, while public transport, schools and businesses were also closed for the day across affected areas.

Warnings across Japan

The Japan Meteorological Agency said Jangmi was south-south-west of Naha City and moving north at 15 kilometres per hour as of noon on Monday, according to NHK.

Weather officials warned people in affected areas to take precautions against strong winds, high waves and landslides. They said wind gusts could reach 162 kilometres per hour in Okinawa and Amami through Tuesday.

Earlier storm conditions had already caused damage in parts of Okinawa. NHK reported that firefighters in Naha City had secured a wooden utility pole to a building to prevent it from falling.

Officials expected up to 250 millimetres of rain across Okinawa and Amami over the next 24 hours. The storm was forecast to move towards western and eastern Japan through Wednesday and could bring heavy rain to areas along the Pacific coast.

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NHK reported that about 400 flights were cancelled on Monday, mainly to and from Okinawa, while more than 160 additional flights scheduled for Tuesday had also been cancelled. Airlines urged passengers to check their websites for the latest travel information.

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