Typhoon Shanshan leaves 3 dead and 1 missing in Japan

Typhoon Shanshan, categorized as “very strong,” made landfall on Thursday on the main island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan, leaving at least three dead, one missing and dozens injured, as well as causing damage to more than a hundred homes.

At least three people have died and one remains missing, while 41 others have been injured in Ky.ushu, of which 9 are in Kagoshima Prefecture, 30 in Miyazaki, one in Fukuoka and one in Kumamoto, according to the latest figures provided on Thursday by Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The missing person is believed to be a man in his 60s who fell into the sea in the port of Kagoshima. the day before while trying to moor his boat, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Images released by the broadcaster on Thursday show flooding and houses with part of their facades lifted after the typhoon made landfall near the city of Satsumasendai.in Kagoshima prefecture, at around 8:00 a.m. Thursday (23:00 GMT Wednesday).

The JMA asked the population to be extremely vigilant, especially in the face of possible landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

After touching ground, The typhoon began to move north/northeast at a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour and is expected to reach Tokyo between September 2 and 3 as it advances north of the country.

Increased weather alert

The special alert issued Wednesday affects Kagoshima Prefecture and southern Miyazaki Prefecture, and includes a warning to citizens to prepare for strong winds and waves.whose combination in coastal areas can cause so-called storm surges, which occur when gusts of air cause water to rise above sea level, flooding coastal areas.

This special alert, although it is more common in the southernmost prefecture of the countryOkinawa, has only been activated once previously on the main islands of the archipelago, precisely also in Kagoshima when Typhoon Nanmadol hit the region in September 2022 leaving 4 dead and more than 100 injured.

In Kitakyushu alone, authorities have ordered the evacuation of 103,813 people in some 55,000 households.

Damage to housing and transportation

In Miyazaki, the typhoon caused damage to around 160 houses and buildings, with facades falling off, windows shattering and low-lying areas flooded. Objects were dislodged, endangering pedestrians, and many traffic lights were not working in the area today.

Regarding the impact on transportation, in Kyushu, the bullet train service between Kumamoto and Fukuoka has been suspended today, as has the high-speed line linking Nagasaki and Takeo, and most local train lines are also suspended.

Railway companies have also reported that, as Shanshan is expected to advance towards Honshu, the high-speed line between Fukuoka and Osaka will be affected with cancellations or suspensions from Thursday to Saturday and the line between Osaka and Tokyo from Friday to Sunday.

Eight highways have been closed and some 700 flights have been cancelled, according to government figures, while another 300 flights were suspended the day before, affecting some 9,000 passengers.