A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, with three fatalities already confirmed. The typhoon, named Shanshan, made landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu at around 08:00 local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reports.
The JMA has issued a rare “special warning” for this severe storm, cautioning against landslides, flooding, and extensive damage. Winds reaching speeds of up to 252 km/h (157 mph) have been reported on the island.
The deceased include a couple in their 70s and a man in his 30s, all part of a family of five whose house in Gamagori, central Japan, was swept away late Tuesday, just before the typhoon’s landfall.
The remaining two family members, both women in their 40s, were rescued after all-night recovery operations, reported local broadcaster NHK.
Forecasts predict up to 600mm of rain in certain areas of Kyushu within 24 hours. Kyushu is home to 12.5 million people.
Around 255,000 households are currently without electricity, as reported by the island’s utility provider.
Videos circulating online depict large trees swaying, roof tiles being torn off homes, and debris being flung into the air amid heavy rainfall.
At least 39 people have sustained injuries in the prefectures of Kagoshima and Miyazaki, according to NHK.
Major car manufacturers, including Toyota and Nissan, shut down operations on Thursday to ensure employee safety and due to potential supply chain disruptions caused by the storm.
Hundreds of flights to and from southern Japan have been canceled, and some high-speed train services have been suspended as well.
Earlier this week, authorities advised 810,000 residents in central Shizuoka Prefecture, located on Japan’s main island of Honshu, to evacuate.
An additional 56,000 people in Kagoshima on Kyushu were instructed to leave their homes, according to the fire and disaster management agency.
The JMA predicts that the storm will move toward Japan’s central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend.
Special typhoon warnings, like the one issued for Shanshan, are declared in Japan for exceptionally strong storms.
A similar warning was issued in September 2022 when Typhoon Nanmadol was approaching Kyushu, marking the first such alert for a region outside of Okinawa.
Shanshan follows Typhoon Ampil, which struck earlier this month, causing minor injuries and damage but still resulting in significant travel disruptions.
Before that, northern Japan experienced record rainfall due to Tropical Storm Maria impacting Honshu Island.
According to a recent study, typhoons in this region are forming closer to coastlines, gaining strength more rapidly, and persisting longer over land due to the effects of climate change.
