Lan Strikes Japan

Typhoon Lan made landfall in central Japan's Wakayama prefecture—one of the country's 47 provinces—early Tuesday, injuring at least 23 people and disrupting travel for tens of thousands amid the Obon holiday. Authorities announced evacuation warnings to over 200,000 residents as the storm crawled northeast at a 9 mph pace.

Known to the Japanese as Typhoon No. 7, the storm blew wind gusts up to 100 mph, unleashing more rain in several hours than the region receives on average per month. Many railroads were closed amid warnings of floods and mudslides, nearly 1,000 flights were canceled, and roughly 26,000 people in Tottori prefecture were forced to evacuate after rising waters breached a heavy dam. Analysts estimate damage from the storm will run into the billions. Track the storm here.

The storm is the second in a week to hit Japan after Typhoon Khanun made landfall on the southern island of Kyushu last Wednesday.