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The Izu archipelago have endured another powerful blow as tropical cyclone Nakri swept through the area on Monday, following in the footsteps of Typhoon Halong, which struck a week earlier.

Immediate Impact on Hachijojima Island

Officials on Hachijojima Island reported disruption and damage to approximately 220 residences after the typhoon brought 37mm (1.5in) of rain in one hour and wind bursts reaching 95mph. Flight services were interrupted, infrastructure damaged, and intense rains caused ground slides across the island chain. The typhoon also produced waves as high as 9 meters, leading to hazardous shoreline situations. Near Oiso on the Pacific side, in the Kanagawa region, three men were swept away while fishing, with one fatality reported.

Nakri's Transformation

The storm has since shifted into an extratropical cyclone, losing strength while traveling east over cooler north Pacific waters, with wind speeds dropping to about 65mph as of Thursday. Moving along the air current, its remaining parts are headed to reach British Columbia, Canada, delivering intense precipitation, powerful gusts, and coastal flooding.

Remembering Halong's Impact

Seven days before, Halong had unleashed more than 200mm of rain in three hours, as peak wind speeds hit 122mph. By late morning last Thursday, precipitation levels climbed to 349mm, shattering the 24-hour record. The typhoon’s remnants then crossed the north Pacific and reached Alaska on Sunday, bringing a record-breaking 2-metre storm surge.

Alaska's Severe Damage

The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were the most affected. A single fatality occurred, houses were ruined, and nearly 1,500 people had to evacuate to safe zones. Alaska experienced an historic mass evacuation by air to evacuate displaced residents. Halong remains among the strongest cyclones the area has ever seen. Its quick strengthening was fuelled by abnormally hot northern Pacific seas, which supplied additional warmth and humidity.

Twin Disasters in Mexico

Meanwhile, the nation faced two consecutive hits last week as the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond combined, dumping about 609mm of rain in four days across the central and eastern areas. Guided by a trough in the air current, the two weather events struck the same zone one after another. The initial heavy rains from Priscilla left the ground saturated, intensifying flooding when Raymond arrived. More than 300 communities were affected by landslides and overflowing rivers. By Wednesday, 66 people have been confirmed dead and 75 individuals are still unaccounted for. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with stagnant floodwaters raising health concerns in remote zones.