Japan cancels hundreds of flights, halts train services as typhoon Ampil approaches

Japan announced Thursday the cancelation of hundreds of flights to and from Tokyo's Haneda airport and Narita airport, close to the capital.Days after Tropical Storm Maria dumped record rains, Typhoon Ampil was set late Thursday to skirt the capital, which has a population of almost 40 million, before sweeping the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday.East Japan Railway Co. said parts of the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku and Yamagata shinkansen services will be suspended Friday, as will operations between Nagoya and Tokyo stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.In the 24 hours from Thursday morning, the typhoon is forecast to bring up to 150 mm of rain to the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, 100 mm in the Tokai region, and 80 mm in the Tohoku region, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.The JMA warned residents of eastern regions of possible severe storms, flooding, river overflows, and landslides.