Typhoon 11 W (Muifa), # 30; UPDATED Storm Watch declared
Published: August 4, 2011
5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, Japan time: Okinawa entered Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness Storm Watch at 4:31 p.m. Saturday. This will be PST's last update on this storm.
You're free to go out now, but be cautious of your surroundings, considering the following which was posted just a bit ago on AFN Okinawa's Facebook page, by Helin:
Please take note of the following areas. Avoid them and stay safe!
Camp Foster - Downed powerline near residence 4083 on Plaza Housing. Dirt slide onto the sidewalk near the Spot Gate (Gate 4) on Camp Foster.
MCAS Futenma - Downed powerline adjacent to VMCR-152 hanger. Maintenance crews are on scene.
Camp Schwab - Overturned gas pump near The Exchange gas station. Maintenance crews are on scene.
Camp Hansen - Downed powerlines near the following buildings: Bldgs 2443 & 2444; Bldgs 2447 & 2448. Maintenance crews are on scene.
O'Donnel Gardens Housing on Camp Sheilds - Aviod underpass between North and South housing areas due to flooding. The alternate gate for the North side residence is open.
Remain alert out there and stay safe!
**Helin
As stated earlier, venture outside at your own risk.
Holding at about 41 inches of rain fall, just short of the record of 42 inches.
Far more than the 28 inches that fell when Typhoon Bart ravaged the island 12 years ago.
Locally, 98,000 homes off base were without power at 3 a.m. Saturday. That number was reduced to 65,000 at 1 p.m., according to Okinawa Electric Power Co.
Plenty of local flash floods both on base and off. Photo on my Facebook page and those of my friends provide the proof.
Okinawa Expressway remains closed.
Thirty-seven people were injured, six of them seriously, according to Okinawa prefectural government's disaster management office. Also, landslides were reported at 17 locations, including Chatan, Okinawa City and Nishihara.
Ryukyu Shimpo reported 277 flights into and out of Naha International Airport connecting Japan's main and smaller islands were canceled, affecting 40,000 passengers.
Japan Air Lines had 44 flights canceled Friday, stranding 13,630 passengers. Thursday's numbers were not immediately available. The airline resumed full service on Saturday, with a few delays in and out bound
All Nippon Airways canceled 112 flights Friday, stranding 21,700. Twenty-nine more flights were scratched Saturday, affecting 4,800 passengers, an ANA spokesman in Tokyo said. Full service resumed Saturday, although with many delays, according to the airline's Web site.
