Typhoon No. 6 is forecast to make direct landfall on Okinawa and the Amami Islands on June 1 [3].
The storm threatens critical infrastructure and transportation hubs, creating a total shutdown of air and sea travel for the region. Local authorities are warning that the intensity of the winds could lead to severe structural damage and prolonged supply shortages.
Maximum instantaneous wind speeds are expected to reach 50 m/s in Okinawa and 45 m/s in the Amami Islands [1, 2]. Tetsu Ikeda, a senior forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), said the winds could be strong enough to overturn moving trucks or knock down numerous trees.
Transport disruptions are already complete. All scheduled flights to and from Okinawa operated by ANA and JAL have been cancelled [4]. Similarly, 100 percent of scheduled ferry services between Naha Port and the surrounding islands are cancelled [5].
Beyond the immediate weather risks, officials are concerned about a shortage of naphtha and waterproof paper. These materials are essential for emergency repairs, and current shortages may leave residents unable to fix roof leaks or other structural breaches caused by the storm.
The weather system is not expected to linger in the south. The JMA forecasts the typhoon will move toward western Japan on June 2 and reach the offshore waters of Kanto on June 3 [3].
“The winds could be strong enough to overturn moving trucks or knock down numerous trees.”
The simultaneous collapse of air and sea transport, combined with a shortage of critical repair materials like waterproof paper, creates a high-risk scenario for Okinawa. If structural damage occurs during the peak of the storm, the inability to source repair materials immediately could lead to secondary damages, such as interior flooding, extending the recovery period for local residents.
