Japan says Typhoon Bang-lang forms near Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean

Japanese weather officials said Friday that Typhoon Bang-lang, locally known as Typhoon No. 23, formed off the west Pacific near Wake Island, becoming one of a record number to form this month.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the typhoon formed at noon Friday near Wake Island and is travelling north-east at around 20 kilometres per hour. The typhoon has a central atmospheric pressure of 1002 hPa, max speed of 18m/s at maximum with gusts of 25 m/s.

The storm is the 23rd named Typhoon in the 2026 Pacific season and the tenth named storm of August making it a record month for the number of Typhoons, Weathernews said.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency tracks tropical storms for much of the western North Pacific and broadcasts warnings when these systems approach populated areas or strengthen, weather officials explained.

The name Bang-lang was submitted by Vietnam and references a specific type of flower. The storm, which marks a name being used for the first time, replaced Vamco after it had been retired due to the devastating 2020 typhoon season. Weather officials warned that the end of the summer is a time for tropical storm systems to start approaching the mainland.