Powerful Typhoon Shanshan slams into southern Japan
“SPECIAL WARNINGS”
For Kagoshima, the JMA issued “special warnings of violent storms, high waves and high tides”.
“Please exercise maximum vigilance against violent storms, high waves and high tides in Kagoshima, as well as landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers in southern Kyushu,” it said.
For southern Kyushu, the JMA predicted an enormous 1,100mm of precipitation in the 48 hours to Friday morning.
Heavy rain brought by Shanshan has been lashing large parts of Japan since Tuesday.
Three members of a family died after a landslide buried a house in Gamagori, a city in central Aichi prefecture, late Tuesday, local media reported.
The deceased included a couple in their 70s as well as a son in his 30s, while two adult daughters in their 40s survived with injuries, Kyodo News reported.
TOYOTA HALT
Auto giant Toyota has suspended production at all 14 of its factories in Japan. Nissan and Honda also decided to halt operations at their Kyushu plants, reports said.
Japan Airlines has cancelled 275 domestic flights for Thursday, affecting 14,893 passengers, and an additional 13 for Friday that would have carried 1,307 people.
ANA scrapped 212 domestic flights slated for Thursday, affecting 18,700 passengers, and 42 Friday flights, affecting 4,200 more.
Shanshan comes in the wake of Typhoon Ampil, which disrupted hundreds of flights and trains this month.
Despite dumping heavy rain, it caused only minor injuries and damage.
Ampil came days after Tropical Storm Maria brought record rains to northern areas.
Typhoons in the region have been forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change, according to a study released last month.
Source: CNA