Japan has issued its highest-level alert to over five million people as one of the Powerful Typhoon in decades, Typhoon Shanshan, has struck the country. The storm, which made landfall in Kagoshima on Kyushu Island, has claimed at least four lives, injured more than 90, and left hundreds of thousands without power.
The level five alert in parts of Kyushu urges residents to take immediate action for their safety, such as moving to safer areas or higher ground, while others are advised to evacuate. Although Shanshan has weakened to a severe tropical storm, it continues to cause heavy rainfall and significant disruptions to transportation as it moves northeast.
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The typhoon has caused widespread damage, including destroyed buildings, shattered windows, uprooted trees, and overturned vehicles. Prior to the typhoon’s arrival, a landslide in central Japan claimed the lives of a couple in their 70s and a man in his 30s, while an additional fatality was reported when an 80-year-old man was trapped by a collapsed roof.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a rare “special warning” for extreme storms, alerting of landslides, flooding, and extensive damage. Wind speeds of up to 252 km/h (157 mph) have been recorded on Kyushu, and major car manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan have halted operations due to safety concerns and potential supply chain disruptions.
Hundreds of flights to and from southern Japan have been canceled, and several high-speed train services have been suspended due to Typhoon Shanshan. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts the storm will continue moving across Japan over the weekend, eventually reaching Tokyo.
Special typhoon warnings, such as the one issued for Shanshan, are reserved for exceptionally powerful storms. A similar warning was issued in September 2022 for Typhoon Nanmadol, marking the first time it was applied outside Okinawa.
Shanshan follows Typhoon Ampil, which caused minor injuries and damage but led to significant disruptions in flights and trains earlier this month. Prior to that, Tropical Storm Maria brought record rainfall to northern Japan’s Honshu island.
Recent studies suggest that typhoons in the region are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more quickly, and lingering longer over land due to climate change.
