Typhoon Shanshan deluges Japan, sparking widespread disruptions
Typhoon Shanshan unleashed a deluge of torrential rain across Japan on Friday, causing severe flooding and landslides hundreds of miles from its center. The storm, described by authorities as one of the strongest ever to impact Kyushu, brought gusts reaching 50 meters per second (180 km/h) and has led to significant disruptions across the country.
The typhoon made landfall in the southwestern region of Kyushu on Thursday, severely affecting Fukuoka City. Streets were deserted as shops remained closed and residents sheltered from the storm. University student Kokoro Osoegawa, 21, stranded at a rain-soaked shopping mall near the city’s train station, expressed frustration over the halted train services. “There are no trains because of the typhoon so my parents are coming to pick me up,” Osoegawa said. “I’ve never experienced all the trains stopping before.”
As of Friday morning, at least three fatalities and 78 injuries have been reported, according to the disaster management agency. The storm’s impact has been severe, with around 125,000 households in seven prefectures across Kyushu experiencing power outages, Kyushu Electric Power Co. reported.
Shanshan’s slow movement has exacerbated the situation, bringing heavy rain to areas well beyond the storm’s center, including Tokyo and Yokohama. Authorities have issued evacuation advisories for over 4 million people, with risks of landslides particularly high in Yokohama.
Despite the advisories, only approximately 30,000 people have been evacuated, primarily from Kyushu, as reported by disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura. The storm is expected to move toward central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend.
Major companies have been impacted, with Toyota halting operations at all domestic plants. Nissan, Honda, Renesas, Tokyo Electron, and Sony have also suspended production at several facilities. Transportation has been heavily disrupted, with airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines canceling hundreds of flights, and ferry and rail services, including the bullet train between Tokyo and Nagoya, suspended.
Tourists have faced significant challenges as well. Lin Yue-Hua, a 60-year-old visitor from Taiwan, had her flight from Fukuoka canceled. “We were very worried and upset because we didn’t know what to do,” she said, adding that her return flight was redirected to Taiwan after circling for 40 minutes.
Typhoon Shanshan follows Typhoon Ampil, which caused similar disruptions earlier this month, highlighting the increasing frequency of severe weather events in Japan.
