Tokyo: In a tempestuous turn of events, a sluggish-moving typhoon dealt a fierce blow to western Japan early Tuesday, triggering a cascade of chaos. Over 800 flights floundered as tens of thousands of households were plunged into darkness due to power outages, propelling authorities to sound the alarm on flood and landslide risks, NHK, the public broadcaster, reported.

Typhoon Lan, a menacing force advancing from the Pacific Ocean, ferociously made landfall at the southernmost extremity of Wakayama prefecture, situated approximately 250 miles (400 km) southwest of the capital city, Tokyo.

At the peak of Japan's bustling Obon holiday season, Typhoon Lan took center stage, swiftly followed by the formidable Typhoon Khanun. This dynamic duo pummeled extensive portions of central and western Japan with unrelenting torrential rains and formidable winds.

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A power crisis manifested in central Mie Prefecture, where over 21,000 residences found themselves grappling with darkness, while thousands more faced a similar predicament in neighboring prefectures, including Osaka.

Given the predicted perilous weather conditions, high-speed train operators prudently suspended services within the region, having anticipated the menacing interplay of winds and rains a day prior. Adding to the tumult, convenience store giant 7-Eleven took the unprecedented step of closing over 100 locations.

The Tokai region at the heart of the nation, home to Toyota Motor, braced itself for an onslaught of 350 mm (13.8 inches) of rainfall within the subsequent 24 hours, a deluge nearly three times the monthly average. This unwelcome tempest coincided with the Obon holidays, compelling the temporary closure of numerous factories as urbanites ventured to ancestral homes.

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As the clock struck 0000 GMT, Typhoon Lan persisted on its northwest trajectory along the western flank of Honshu, the primary island. Sustaining winds at 150 kph (93 mph), the typhoon was poised to traverse the Sea of Japan by early Wednesday, forging a northward path along its waters.

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This tumultuous turn of events serves as a jarring reminder of nature's capricious power and the necessity of preemptive measures in the face of such calamitous forces. The enduring legacy of Typhoon Lan's impact resonates through disrupted travel plans, power woes, and an unforgiving deluge, underscoring the fragility of human infrastructure against the backdrop of Mother Nature's fury.