Japan issued an emergency warning on Wednesday as Typhoon Shanshan — described as potentially being one of the worst storms to ever hit the region — approached the southwestern region, bringing heavy downpours and powerful winds. According to Reuters, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has forecast that the typhoon is likely to hit the southwestern island of Kyushu island over the next few days before approaching the central and eastern regions, including capital Tokyo, around the weekend.
As per a report by Japan’s NHK, the maximum speed of wind is forecast to reach around 250 kilometres per hour in the typhoon’s centre, strong enough to bring down houses. As of 2 pm (local time), the typhoon was moving over waters at 70 kilometres per hour south-southwest of Yakushima island, it said.
“Maximum caution is required given that forecasts are for strong winds, high waves and high tides that have not been seen thus far,” Satoshi Sugimoto, the meteorological agency’s chief forecaster, told a news conference, according to Reuters.
A typhoon is a tropical cyclone also known as hurricane (whether a storm is a typhoon or hurricane depends on the part of the world where it has struck).
We’ve been experiencing sustained gales in Makurazaki for the past hour or two now and some much stronger gusts in the past 30 mins as some beefier rainbands passed over.
Definitely getting that typhoon feel now 🌀#Japan #TyphoonShanshan pic.twitter.com/vBaOo9xnHo
— Jason H (AU) 🇦🇺 (@OreboundImages) August 28, 2024
Reuters reported that Japanese authorities have issued evacuation orders for more than 800,000 residents in the Kagoshima prefecture of Kyushu and the central Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures.
Typhoon Shanshan is the latest harsh weather phenomenon to hit Japan following last week’s Typhoon Ampil, which caused blackouts and evacuations.
According to an IANS report, airlines and rail operators have cancelled some services over the coming days in light of the typhoon.
Japan Airlines said it would cancel 170 domestic flights through Thursday. ANA and Japan Airlines said a total of 10 international flights will be suspended, Reuters reported.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked authorities to provide timely and accurate information regarding evacuation, heavy rain, rainstorms, river conditions, etc with the typhoon’s approach. In a statement, he asked authorities to work closely with local governments and take all possible measures like support for evacuation.
Instructions by the Prime Minister regarding Typhoon No. 10 (Shanshan) (08:00) pic.twitter.com/dIe6pEN74g
— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) August 28, 2024
Toyota Suspends Operations
Toyota has suspended operations at all of its factories in Japan because of the approaching typhoon.
“From today’s number-two (afternoon) shift through tomorrow’s number-one (daytime) shift, we will suspend all the production lines at domestic factories,” a Toyota spokesman told AFP.
