Three dead as Typhoon Shanshan hits southern Japan
A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, leaving three people dead so far.
Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in Kagoshima prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu at around 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The JMA has issued a rare “special warning” for the most severe storms, cautioning about the risks of landslides, flooding, and widespread destruction. Wind speeds reaching up to 252 km/h (157 mph) have been recorded on the island.
Among the deceased are a couple in their 70s and a man in his 30s, who were part of a family of five whose home in Gamagori, central Japan, was swept away late on Tuesday before the typhoon’s arrival.
Two other family members, both women in their 40s, were rescued after an all-night recovery operation, as reported by local broadcaster NHK.
Some areas of Kyushu, home to 12.5 million people, are forecasted to receive up to 600mm of rain within 24 hours.
Approximately 255,000 homes are currently without power, according to the island’s utility provider.
Online videos show large trees bending, roof tiles being blown off, and debris swirling in the air as heavy rains pummel the island.
At least 39 people have been injured in Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, NHK said.
Major carmakers like Toyota and Nissan shut down their plants on Thursday, citing the safety of its employees as well as potential parts shortages caused by the storm.
Hundreds of flights to and from southern Japan have been cancelled. Some high-speed train services have also been suspended.
Earlier this week, local governments issued evacuation advisories to 810,000 people in the central Shizuoka prefecture on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
A further 56,000 were told to leave their home in Kagoshima on Kyushu, the fire and disaster management agency said.
JMA expects the storm to approach Japan’s central and eastern regions, including the capital Tokyo, around the weekend.
Special typhoon warnings, like the one issued for Shanshan, are declared in Japan in cases of extraordinarily powerful storms. The same warning was issued in September 2022 as Typhoon Nanmadol approached Kyushu – the first such warning declared for a region other than Okinawa.
Shanshan comes in the wake of Typhoon Ampil earlier this month, which caused only minor injuries and damage but still disrupted hundreds of flights and trains.
Before that, northern parts of Japan saw record rainfall when Tropical Storm Maria hit Honshu island.
Typhoons in the region have been forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change, according to a study released last month.
