Typhoon Shanshan, the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan this year, made landfall on Kyushu island on Thursday, causing widespread devastation. With winds reaching up to 252 km/h, the storm has left dozens injured and caused significant property damage, leading to mass evacuations and power outages across the region.
As Shanshan approached, Japanese authorities issued their highest alert levels, urging hundreds of thousands to evacuate in anticipation of "life-threatening" conditions. The storm's impact has been severe, with heavy rain and powerful winds causing floods, landslides, and extensive damage to buildings. In Miyazaki, a coastal city in Kyushu, at least 26 people have been injured, with 124 reports of damage to structures. Although most injuries were caused by shattered windows, none are reported to be life-threatening. Kagoshima, another city in the region, has also reported nine injuries.
The typhoon's slow movement has exacerbated its effects, as prolonged rainfall increases the risk of more severe flooding. Kyushu's utility operator reported that over 254,000 homes are without power, and the storm's trajectory suggests that it may continue to affect Japan's main island, Honshu, including major cities like Osaka and Nagoya.
The Japan Meteorological Office has issued special warnings for violent storms, high waves, and potential landslides, particularly in Kagoshima, where an enormous 1,100mm of rain is expected within 48 hours. The disaster has already claimed lives, with three members of a family in Gamagori, Aichi prefecture, killed in a landslide earlier in the week.
The typhoon has also disrupted major industries, with auto giants like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda halting operations at their factories in response to the storm. The transportation sector has been significantly affected, with Japan Airlines and ANA canceling hundreds of flights, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
Shanshan follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ampil, which caused disruptions earlier this month, and Tropical Storm Maria, which brought record rainfall to northern Japan. Recent studies suggest that climate change is contributing to the increasing intensity and frequency of such storms, with typhoons forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and lasting longer over land.
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