Rough waves hit the coastline in Ibusuki, Kagoshima, as Typhoon Shanshan nears southwestern Japan on August 28, 2024. Reuters
Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in southern Japan on Thursday, prompting a massive evacuation effort as nearly 4 million people were urged to leave their homes. The storm, which struck the island of Kyushu with intense winds and heavy rain, has left thousands without power and caused significant disruption across the region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency warning for the typhoon, anticipating severe flooding and landslides. The alert was particularly dire for Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, where authorities warned of a “life-threatening situation.” A Level 4 evacuation advisory, the second highest, was issued for all of Kyushu, affecting approximately 3.7 million residents.
By Thursday morning, one person was reported missing, and at least 47 individuals had been injured. Although Typhoon Shanshan has weakened, it continues to move north through Kyushu as a Category 1 hurricane equivalent, with winds reaching speeds of up to 185 kph (115 mph). The storm is now around 150 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of Sasebo.
A house in Miyazaki Prefecture, western Japan, is shown damaged as Typhoon Shanshan nears on August 28, 2024. AP Photo
In areas closer to the storm’s landfall, like Miyazaki, video footage showed significant damage. Downed power lines and debris cluttered the streets as Shanshan battered the region. The typhoon’s impact has also been felt in central Japan, where a landslide in Aichi Prefecture claimed the lives of three people and severely injured two others.
Despite weakening, Shanshan is moving slowly at 10 kph (7 mph), which can lead to prolonged and more damaging rainfall. Rainfall totals have already exceeded 0.5 meters (20 inches) in many parts of Kyushu, with predictions that some areas could receive up to 1 meter (40 inches) of rain. More than 255,000 households in Kyushu were without power as of Thursday morning, and major airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, had cancelled over 400 flights in anticipation of the storm.
People in Kagoshima struggle with powerful winds and heavy rain from Typhoon Shanshan on August 28, 2024, while trying to shield themselves with umbrellas. Reuters
As Typhoon Shanshan continues its path, it is expected to shift eastward and move through Kyushu, weakening further to a tropical storm by the end of the day. The storm will proceed slowly over Japan’s southwest, with its effects likely extending into central regions over the weekend and into early next week. The primary threat moving forward will be heavy rainfall, with some areas in Shikoku and Honshu expected to receive more than 0.5 meters (20 inches) of rain.
