In this photo taken by Kyodo, high waves are seen on the coast as Typhoon Shanshan moves toward southwestern Japan in Ibusuki, Kagoshima Prefecture on August 28, 2024. | Photo credit: Kyodo/via Reuters
a storm Cyclone triggers rain in southern Japan The storm will bring strong winds, high waves and heavy rainfall to much of the country, prompting weather officials to issue the highest level of warning on Wednesday (August 28, 2024).
Three people were injured and three others were missing due to storm-related landslides and vehicle accidents.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Typhoon Shanshan is expected to reach southern Kyushu and possibly make landfall on Thursday (August 29, 2024), and issued the highest level warning for violent winds, high waves and heavy rain for Kagoshima Prefecture, as well as an emergency typhoon warning. It forecast up to 60 cm (23.6 inches) of rain over 24 hours for southern Kyushu.
According to the agency, Shanshan was about 120 km (75 miles) south of the southern island of Yakushima on Wednesday morning (August 28, 2024) as it headed north toward Kyushu, with winds of up to 180 km (112 miles) per hour.
Warm, humid air surrounding the storm and a separate high-pressure system dumped heavy rain on the central Japanese town of Gamagori, where a landslide buried a house containing five people. Two of them were rescued alive and crews were searching for the other three, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
“On the southern island of Amami, where the typhoon passed, a man was thrown off his motorcycle by a strong gust of wind,” the FDMA said.
Weather and government officials are concerned about widespread nationwide damage as the typhoon slowly plows into the Japanese archipelago over the next few days, triggering floods and landslides and disrupting transport, businesses and other daily activities.
The typhoon could cause “unprecedented” levels of violent winds, high waves, storm surges and heavy rainfall, Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said at a taskforce meeting on Wednesday (August 28, 2024).
He urged residents living in Shanshan’s projected path to take precautionary measures in advance to save their lives, such as checking their nearest shelters. Mr. Matsumura urged residents, especially the elderly, not to hesitate and seek shelter whenever there are any safety concerns. The government also canceled its annual earthquake drills on Sunday (August 28, 2024) to free up disaster response resources.
Dozens of domestic flights linking southwestern cities and islands will be cancelled until Friday (August 23, 2024). Japan Railway companies said most bullet trains and local train services were running normally on Wednesday (August 28, 2024), but many services in Kyushu will remain suspended on Thursday (August 29, 2024). Similar measures may be taken on the main island of Honshu until Sunday (September 1, 2024).
Postal and delivery services in the Kyushu region have also been suspended, and supermarkets and other stores have announced plans to close early.