Typhoon Shanshan has drenched vast regions of Japan with torrential rain, leading authorities to issue severe warnings for flooding and landslides far from the storm’s center. The powerful typhoon, one of the strongest to hit the southwestern region of Kyushu, has halted transportation services and forced major factories to suspend operations.
The Disaster Management Agency reported that at least four people have lost their lives and 99 others have been injured in storm-related incidents over recent days. Residents in Kyushu are now assessing the damage after enduring a night of relentless rain and fierce winds.
As of 3:45 p.m., the typhoon was near the coastal city of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, bringing gusts of up to 50 meters per second (180 km/h), strong enough to overturn moving trucks. The storm is moving eastward, posing further risks to central and eastern regions.
Approximately 250,000 households across seven prefectures experienced power outages on Thursday, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co. While many services have been restored by Friday, the impact of the storm remains significant. The warm, moist air circulating around Typhoon Shanshan has resulted in record-breaking rainfall in areas distant from its core, raising concerns due to the storm’s slower-than-expected movement across the country.
Evacuation advisories have been issued to more than 3.3 million people nationwide, predominantly in Kyushu and extending to central and eastern regions, including Tokyo and Yokohama. Authorities have warned of potential landslides and river overflows as heavy rains continue. In Shizuoka, a major city in central Japan, over 500 millimeters of rain have fallen in the past 72 hours—the highest recorded since data collection began in 1976.
Despite the widespread advisories, Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura noted that only about 30,000 people have evacuated thus far, primarily from Kyushu. The storm is expected to reach central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend and into early next week, according to the weather agency.
The typhoon has also disrupted industrial operations. Toyota has suspended activities in all its domestic plants through Monday morning. Other major companies, including Nissan, Honda, Renesas, Tokyo Electron, and Sony, have temporarily halted production at certain factories. Transportation has been heavily affected as well, with airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines canceling hundreds of domestic and international flights. Ferry and rail services, including the bullet train between Tokyo and Nagoya, faced suspensions on Friday morning.
Typhoon Shanshan follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ampil earlier this month, which also caused blackouts and evacuations in Japan. As the nation braces for continued severe weather, authorities urge residents to stay informed and adhere to safety advisories.
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Typhoon Shanshan drenches Japan, prompting landslide and flood alerts
cgtn.com
