Tokyo, August 30, 2024, The Europe Today, Typhoon Shanshan continued its slow and destructive path across Japan on Friday, leaving a trail of heavy rains and severe disruptions in its wake. Having made landfall on the island of Kyushu on Thursday, the storm had weakened by Friday morning but still brought winds of up to 126 km (78 miles) per hour.
As of 8:45 a.m. local time (2345 GMT), Shanshan was near the coastal city of Kunisaki in Oita Prefecture, moving northeast, according to authorities. The typhoon’s relentless rains and winds have already caused significant damage, with more than four million people advised to evacuate. However, disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura reported that only around 30,000 had been evacuated as of Thursday, primarily from Kyushu.
The heavy rains preceding the typhoon have resulted in tragic loss of life, with reports confirming the deaths of a family of three on Tuesday and two additional fatalities on Wednesday. Numerous injuries have been reported as strong winds shattered glass windows and tore off roof tiles.
In addition to the human toll, the storm has severely disrupted infrastructure. Around 125,000 households in seven Kyushu prefectures are without power, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co. The Japanese Meteorological Agency reported record rainfall in parts of Kyushu, including Misato town, which experienced 791.5 millimeters (31 inches) of rain over 48 hours.
Transport across the region has been severely impacted, with bullet trains in Kyushu halted and the Tokyo-Osaka route suspended. Several ferry and rail services have also been canceled. Japan Airlines and ANA have canceled approximately 600 flights scheduled for Friday.
The storm has further compounded disruptions in the industrial sector, with work suspended at factories of major automakers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, as well as at chipmaker Tokyo Electron.
This latest storm follows Typhoon Ampil, which earlier this month also caused significant disruptions and damage. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such typhoons to climate change, noting that these storms tend to last longer and become more severe.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as Typhoon Shanshan progresses.
