High waves observed along the shore as Typhoon Shanshan approaches south-western Japan in Ibusuki, Kagoshima prefecture, on Aug 28. - Photo: Reuters
FUKUOKA, (Japan): Typhoon Shanshan slammed into Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu early on Thursday (Aug 29), with the authorities advising thousands of people to evacuate and issuing the highest warning level for wind and storm surges.
The weather office said Japan’s most powerful typhoon in 2024 made landfall at around 8am local time packing gusts of up to 252kmh.
Kyushu’s utility operator said 254,610 houses were already without power.
“Special warnings of violent storms, high waves and high tides are being issued to the Kagoshima region (of Kyushu),” the Japan Meteorological Office said.
“Please exercise maximum vigilance against violent storms, high waves and high tides in Kagoshima, as well as landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers in southern Kyushu,” it said.
“Please also be advised that the risk of a disaster due to heavy rain can rapidly escalate in western Japan as Aug 30 approaches.”
Heavy rain brought by Shanshan has been lashing large parts of Japan since Aug 27.
Three members of a family died after a landslide buried a house in Gamagori, a city in central Aichi prefecture, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported early on Aug 29, citing local government officials.
The deceased included a couple in their 70s as well as a son in his 30s, while two adult daughters in their 40s survived with injuries, Kyodo reported.
For southern Kyushu, the JMA predicted an enormous 1,100mm of precipitation in the 48 hours to the morning of Aug 30.
Video on public broadcaster NHK TV showed roof tiles being blown off houses, broken windows and felled trees.
“Our carport roof was blown away in its entirety. I wasn’t at home when it happened, but my kids say they felt the shaking was so strong they thought an earthquake happened,” a local resident in Miyazaki told NHK.
“I was surprised. It was completely beyond our imagination,” she said.
Auto giant Toyota has suspended production at all 14 of its factories in Japan.
Japan Airlines cancelled 172 domestic flights and six international flights scheduled for Aug 28 and 29, while ANA scrapped 219 domestic flights and four international ones on Aug 28, 29 and 30.
The cancellations affected around 25,000 people.
Kyushu Railway said it would suspend some Shinkansen bullet train services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima Chuo from the night of Aug 28 and warned of further possible disruption.
Trains between Tokyo and Fukuoka, the most populous city on Kyushu, may also be cancelled depending on weather conditions this week, other operators said.
Shanshan comes in the wake of Typhoon Ampil, which disrupted hundreds of flights and trains in August.
Despite dumping heavy rain, it caused only minor injuries and damage.
Ampil came days after Tropical Storm Maria brought record rains to northern areas.
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 in July. - AFP
