Massive flooding in Japan as Powerful Typhoon Maria approaches - Maria is expected to threaten lives and property when it barrels across Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and eastern China as a dangerous typhoon Tuesday through Thursday.

Maria will remain a powerful typhoon through the beginning of the week as it churns northwestward over the Philippine Sea. No land masses will be directly affected, but dangerous seas being stirred can force ships to alter their courses. Delays in shipments may result.

Residents and visitors in Maria’s path should now make necessary preparations and heed any evacuation orders.

Lives and property will be threatened when Maria plows through Japan’s Ryukyu Islands on Tuesday (local time) before tracking past Taiwan and making landfall in eastern China on Wednesday. The exact track of Maria will determine which areas face the worst of its destructive winds, storm surge flooding, flooding rain and isolated tornadoes.

Maria is anticipated to pass dangerously close or make a direct hit on one of the southern Ryukyu Islands with its strength equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane in the eastern Pacific or Atlantic oceans.

The southern Ryukyu Islands, the Miyako Islands are inline to feel the full brunt of what Maria has to offer during the day on Tuesday.
The strength of Maria’s winds when it lashes the Ryukyu Islands can severely damage well-built framed homes and rip many roofs off buildings. Widespread downed trees and power poles can leave the area without power for weeks. Some areas may become inaccessible where debris clogs roads.

Being out during the height of the storm will be extremely dangerous as flying projectiles can cause injury or death.

Flooding rain will accompany the destructive winds, while dangerously large waves can severely flood and devastate homes and communities along the immediate coast. Waves can be as high as 12 meters (40 feet) around Maria’s center as the typhoon barrels through the Ryukyu Islands. Source: Accu Weather
Credit: Universal News