Typhoon Shanshan wreaks havoc in Japan, causing cancellations of trains and flights
Japan is currently facing one of the strongest typhoons in decades, as Typhoon Shanshan drenches cities in its path, leading to the cancellation of trains and flights across the country. The typhoon made landfall in south-western Japan on Thursday, resulting in at least six deaths and over 100 injuries.
Although now downgraded to a tropical storm, Shanshan is still packing winds of 90km/h (56mph) and has left thousands of people without power. The highest level-five order was issued to millions of residents in the southern island of Kyushu as the storm approached, with winds reaching up to 252 km/h.
Despite weakening to a severe tropical storm after making landfall, Shanshan continues to move north-east, with up to 300mm (12in) of rainfall expected in some areas in the next 24 hours. Residents in the affected areas have been warned of potential landslides, flooding, and large-scale damage.
The aftermath of the typhoon is evident, with buildings damaged by flying debris, trees uprooted, and cars overturned or buried under floods. Heavy rain continues to fall in Gifu and Mie prefectures, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to urge people to remain vigilant for landslides and flooding.
The impact of Typhoon Shanshan has also affected transportation services, with All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines cancelling dozens of domestic flights. Bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka, as well as Shinkansen bullet trains in Nagoya, have been suspended, with the possibility of more cancellations in the coming days.
Special typhoon warnings, like the one issued for Shanshan, are rare in Japan and are declared in cases of extraordinarily powerful storms. The frequency and intensity of typhoons in the region have been linked to climate change, with storms forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and lasting longer over land.
