Tokyo, Japan — One of the most intense typhoons to strike Japan in recent decades, Typhoon Shanshan, has unleashed significant devastation across the southern regions of the country, causing at least five fatalities and injuring scores of individuals, as it progressed inland on Thursday. The destructive weather event triggered concerns of extensive flooding and landslides, prompting authorities to signal multiple high-level alerts and recommend evacuation for over five million residents.
Originally hitting Japan’s southern island of Kyushu in the early hours of Thursday, Typhoon Shanshan arrived with wind gusts that reached up to 252 kilometers per hour (157 miles per hour), categorizing it as the strongest storm to occur this year. By the late afternoon, its force had abated somewhat, with gusts reducing to around 162 kph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Despite this decrease in intensity, the typhoon continued to pour substantial rainfall over large swathes of Kyushu and other areas.
Among the confirmed deaths was a man whose two-story house collapsed under the strain in Tokushima Prefecture. As Shanshan’s effects began to manifest, three family members lost their lives due to a landslide in Aichi prefecture, situated approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Kyushu. This tragic incident occurred even before Shanshan had fully made its impact felt.
The JMA has underscored the escalating danger, particularly emphasizing the enhanced risk of disasters as heavy rains persist. With rivers swelling and transforming into torrents and violent winds causing structural damage, the magnitude of the storm’s impact has become apparent. Local televised footage revealed scenes of inundated roads and active power line repairs.
In response to the potential for severe flooding, authorities in Kunisaki city, located in the Oita prefecture of Kyushu, have issued directives urging residents to seek refuge in secure or elevated places. The extent of the injuries has grown, with the JMA reporting that at least 80 people across Kyushu have sustained injuries due to the storm.
The severity of the storm was also felt in Miyazaki, another coastal city where nearly 200 buildings were reported damaged and 25 people injured, a few due to a tornado that swept through the area. Record-breaking rainfall was recorded in parts of Miyazaki Prefecture, including Misato town, which reported an unprecedented 791.5 millimeters (31 inches) of rain within a 48-hour span.
For many young residents, like 18-year-old Aoi Nishimoto and 19-year-old Rio Ohtsuru, the experience has been fraught with anxiety. Both shared their concerns about coping alone during such extreme weather events, highlighting the broader emotional toll the typhoon has exacted on local communities.
The aftermath of Typhoon Shanshan continues to affect local infrastructures and industries significantly. Toyota, for instance, has halted operations at all 14 of its Japanese manufacturing facilities. Similar production suspensions have been implemented by Nissan and Honda at their plants in Kyushu, as well as by several semiconductor manufacturers, given Kyushu’s prominence in the semiconductor industry.
Transportation has also taken a hit, with Japan Airlines and ANA canceling more than 1,000 domestic and several international flights. The rail network wasn’t spared either, as operators suspended most Shinkansen bullet train services between Kyushu’s Hakata and Tokyo.
The intensification and increased frequency of typhoons in the region, influenced by climate change, continue to pose significant challenges, shaping a new and urgent context for disaster preparedness and response in Japan and the wider Pacific region.