Typhoon Khanun, a relentless force of nature, hits southern Japan, causing widespread evacuations and leaving one-third of homes on the Okinawa islands without power. This tempestuous phenomenon, the third typhoon to assail East Asia within three weeks, is poised to exacerbate Beijing’s heaviest rains in over a century. The severe side effects of these torrential downpours are evident, with 34 lives lost in China thus far. It is a stark reminder that the escalating impacts of global warming are leading to more frequent and extreme weather events.

A Series of Deluge: Khanun’s Wrath Amplified by Climate Change

Typhoon Khanun follows in the wake of two preceding typhoons, Talim and Doksuri, both morphed into super storms, unleashing devastation upon the Philippines and Taiwan, resulting in the tragic loss of over 30 lives. While initial forecasts pointed towards a landfall along China’s northeast coast, recent predictions indicate that Khanun is more likely to veer towards the Japanese mainland, bypassing China. The Okinawa islands, a tropical paradise usually frequented by tourists during this peak season, are poised to endure the brunt of Khanun’s ferocity, characterized by gusts of up to 252km/h (156mph). In preparation for this impending calamity, around 20,000 residents have been advised to evacuate, while Okinawa’s Naha airport grapples with the cancellation of nearly 900 flights.

The unprecedented intensity of these late-season storms is a rarity in Japan. Nonetheless, climate scientists have been persistent in their warnings that the surge in global temperatures would invariably elevate the intensity and frequency of storms and heat waves. Tragically, these phenomena have cast their ominous shadow over various parts of Asia in the past month. Drawing parallels to a high-stakes game of roulette, Winston Chow, an urban climate expert at Singapore Management University, elucidates that the odds of extreme weather events have dramatically risen due to climate change. The analogy is clear: as emissions surge, the once-black squares turn a vivid red, increasing the likelihood of landing on the red square every passing year.

The confluence of three successive storms has precipitated an unrelenting deluge upon Beijing and its adjacent regions, including Tianjin and Hebei province. As the rain-soaked aftermath unfolds, a staggering 974,400 individuals have been evacuated, seeking refuge from the tempest’s wrath. In Beijing’s Mentougou district, the stark images of villagers digging through mud-clogged homes while authorities clear roads and bridges of debris paint a harrowing picture. An astonishing record has been shattered – Beijing’s rainfall is the heaviest in 140 years, eclipsing the benchmark set in 1891. Officials have somberly warned that further “significant rainfall” remains a distinct possibility.

Typhoon Khanun’s assault on Japan has brought forth an unwelcome reminder of the tumultuous effects of global warming. As this devastating typhoon leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, the world is reminded that the cost of inaction in the face of climate change is perilously high. The urgent need to address this looming crisis has never been more transparent, as extreme weather events, intensified by environmental degradation, leave communities reeling and nations grappling for solutions.

Also Read: Typhoon Doksuri Causes Havoc In China’s Beijing