Japan is bracing for violent winds and heavy rainfall as Typhoon Shanshan slowly approaches the country’s southwest.
The storm has already led to airline flight cancellations and area evacuations, with business closures expected through the weekend.
As of Wednesday morning, Typhoon Shanshan was located approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of the southern island of Yakushima. The typhoon is heading north toward Kyushu, with maximum winds reaching up to 112 miles (180 kilometers) per hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The JMA warned that the typhoon is likely to reach southern Kyushu and potentially make landfall on Thursday. High-level warnings have been issued for dangerous winds, high waves, and heavy rain in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura urged residents in the storm’s predicted path to take early precautionary measures, including locating the nearest shelters.
Matsumura emphasized that residents, particularly older adults, should not hesitate to seek shelter if safety becomes a concern.
The JMA has forecast up to 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) of rainfall on southern Kyushu within 24 hours, raising concerns about potential flooding and landslides.Beyond this, the storm is going to be incredibly difficult to predict, according to Yale Climate Connections.
To focus on the storm response, the government canceled its annual earthquake drills scheduled for Sunday.
So far, no damage or injuries have been reported.
Dozens of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities and islands are expected to be canceled through Friday.
Japan Railway companies reported that most bullet trains and local services were operating normally on Wednesday, but many on Kyushu are likely to be suspended on Thursday. Similar disruptions could affect the main island of Honshu through Sunday.
In addition to transportation delays, postal and delivery services have been suspended in the Kyushu region. Many supermarkets and stores have announced plans to close early as the storm approaches.
Typhoon Shanshan’s progression is classed at Category Four level, the second highest on the scale.
Current models can’t be certain of whether the intensity will increase, but the marked slowness in its progression could prolong its impact on land.
Japan’s proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire—the most seismically and volcanically active area in the world—means large scale natural disasters are common.
The country is renowned for its advanced early warning systems, strict building codes, and well-organized disaster response mechanisms.
This is Japan’s 10th typhoon this year. An average typhoon season (May-October) can produce as many as 30, but it’s rare for the majority to reach land. Around three make landfall annually, during periods where ocean temperatures are higher.
There is potential for Typhoon Shanshan to be the strongest in Japan’s history since Typhoon Jebi in 2018, which was the costliest typhoon in terms of insured losses.
Typhoon Jebi saw insured losses of US$13—14 billion, damaging 98,000 houses and leaving over 3 million without electricity.
Fourteen people died and a further 980 were injured.
Up to date information can be found via the Japan Meteorological Agency.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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