Typhoon Shanshan struck southwest Japan's Kyushu region on Thursday, unleashing powerful winds and heavy rains that have forced millions to evacuate their homes. The storm, one of the strongest ever to hit the area, has caused significant disruptions, including widespread power outages and halted air traffic.
At least three people have lost their lives, and numerous others have been injured as authorities brace for the typhoon's continued impact. Major automakers like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda have suspended operations in their domestic plants, while chipmakers Renesas and Tokyo Electron have temporarily halted production at several factories.
In a harrowing account, funeral parlor employee Tomoki Maeda was caught in a hearse when the typhoon hit Miyazaki city. He described the experience, saying, \"I've never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life,\" as shattered windows and torn-down walls caused chaos in the area.
The typhoon, with gusts reaching up to 180 kilometers per hour, was near Unzen city in Nagasaki Prefecture at 1:45 p.m. and is moving north at approximately 15 km per hour. Kyushu Electric Power Co. reported that around 230,000 households across seven prefectures are without power. Fortunately, the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Satsumasendai city remains unaffected.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that three individuals have died and one is missing due to the typhoon, while the disaster management agency reported 45 injuries. The storm is expected to move towards central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo, by the weekend, prompting evacuation notices for over 5.2 million people nationwide.
Madoka Kubo, a hotel owner in Hitoyoshi city, Kumamoto prefecture, shared how her establishment is now sheltering elderly evacuees after canceling all reservations. Transportation has also been heavily impacted, with nearly 800 flights canceled by airlines like ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines. Train, bus, and ferry services have been suspended in many parts of Kyushu, causing further disruptions.
Typhoon Shanshan follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ampil, which earlier this month also caused blackouts and evacuations, highlighting Japan's ongoing battle with severe weather systems.
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Millions evacuated as typhoon slams Japan's Kyushu, halting flights
cgtn.com
