Thousands of Japanese are bracing for the approach of Typhoon Ampil. The typhoon is on its way from the Pacific Ocean and could cause significant damage. Ampil is expected to make landfall in the capital Tokyo tonight.

Train and air traffic there was halted as a precaution. In the city of Iwaki, north of Tokyo, 320,000 residents were asked to evacuate. Accommodation was arranged. It is considered safe, including school gyms and community centers.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the typhoon had winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour. More than 5,000 households were without power.

The cyclone is set to continue into tomorrow, forecasters say, and could bring mudslides, landslides, high waves and flooding. In some places, more than 200mm of rain is expected. Ampil will move north on Sunday, but is likely to weaken into a tropical storm.

Last week, Japan also warned of a natural disaster, a “super-terror” with an expected magnitude of 7.1.

This warning was withdrawn this week by the weather service, although there is still a possibility of an earthquake of this magnitude.