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Nature and EnvironmentJapan

Japan: Typhoon Shanshan brings heavy rains, halts transport

August 30, 2024

Typhoon Shanshan continued its journey after making landfall in Kyushu. The intensity has decreased on the second day, but rains and winds still continue.

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Passersby holding umbrellas walk on the street in the rains and winds in Fukuoka, Japan August 30, 2024.
Shanshan has disrupted transport in several affected areasImage: Issei Kato/REUTERS

Typhoon Shanshan continued its slow journey across Japan on Friday, causing torrential rains and disrupting transport.

Typhoon Shanshan made landfall on the island of Kyushu on Thursday. It had weakened by Friday morning, but winds of up to 126 kilometers (78 miles) per hour were still blowing.

The typhoon was near the coastal city of Kunisaki in Oita Prefecture at 8:45 a.m. (2345 GMT) and moving northeast, authorities said.

Heavy rains preceding the typhoon had killed a family of three on Tuesday, and at least two more were missing. Dozens have been injured, especially as the strong winds and rain shattered glass windows and ripped off roof tiles.

Japan in the grip of Typhoon Shanshan

Which areas have been affected

More than four million people had been advised to evacuate, and authorities issued the highest alerts in some areas.

However, only some 30,000 had been evacuated as of Thursday, mainly in Kyushu, disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said.

Around 250,000 households in seven prefectures had no power in Kyushu, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co.

Locals in the town of Ninomiya near Tokyo were asked to move to higher locations as a river flooded.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency said parts of Kyushu saw record rains, including Misato town which saw 791.5 millimeters (31 inches) in 48 hours.

Bullet trains in Kyushu were halted, and the route between Tokyo and Osaka was not running either. Several ferry and rail services were also canceled. Japan Airlines and ANA had already canceled about 600 flights for Friday.

A bullet train ticket counter in Tokyo.
Shinkansen bullet trains were suspendedImage: Ryohei Moriya/Yomiuri Shimbun/AP/picture alliance

Work remained suspended at factories of automakers Toyota, Nissan and Honda, as well as chipmakers like Tokyo Electron.
Just earlier this month, Japan had been hit by Typhoon Ampil which disrupted transport and caused injuries and damage.

Japan has been seeing stronger and more intense typhoons, which tend to last longer due to climate change, say scientists. 

tg/rc (AFP, Reuters)