Train and flight services in western Japan are likely to be disrupted from Sunday as powerful Typhoon Haishen approaches the region, bringing potential record rainfall and strong winds, Kyodo reported. West Japan Railway Co. is considering suspending Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train services between Hiroshima and Hakata stations all day Monday and reducing local train services between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima stations. Kyushu Railway Co. said its bullet and local train services on Japan's southwestern main island may be suspended on Sunday and Monday, while Shikoku Railway Co. has decided to suspend all luxury sightseeing train runs on those days. Japan Airlines Co., All Nippon Airways Co. and other airlines are considering canceling flights serving airports in Okinawa Prefecture, Amami-Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture and other parts of the Kyushu region, and the Shikoku region in western Japan, for three days from today, on Saturday. Seven-Eleven Japan Co. plans to close about 1,000 convenience stores in all seven prefectures in Kyushu or about 40 percent of its total in the region, starting Saturday. Yamato Transport Co. said it will halt pickup and delivery services for up to three days through Monday in Kyushu, part of Shikoku and a few other prefectures in western Japan. The typhoon is projected to reach winds of up to 306 kilometers per hour when it approaches Okinawa and Amami-Oshima Island on Sunday, with up to 800 millimeters of rain expected to drench the lower parts of Kyushu in the 24 hours to 6 p.m. Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged the public to "evacuate promptly based on information provided by local governments, and take actions to protect lives." He added that 22,000 Self-Defense Forces members were ready to be deployed for rescue operations if necessary.
