Typhoon Shanshan weakens, still disrupts Japan with heavy rains and fatalities
Shanshan weakens but continues to cause havoc across Japan with rains and warnings
Typhoon Shanshan weakened to a tropical storm on Friday, still unleashing heavy rains across Japan, causing transport disruptions and landslide warnings, with up to six fatalities reported. Initially one of the most powerful storms to hit Japan in decades, it struck Kyushu island on Thursday with winds reaching 252 kilometres per hour. By Friday, winds had reduced to 108 kph as it progressed through the islands.
Before its landfall, heavy rains triggered a landslide in Aichi prefecture, about 1,000 kilometres away, killing three family members late Tuesday. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed another death on Friday, with the connection to the typhoon under investigation. He added that two more were feared dead and two others were missing. Eight people sustained serious injuries, and 70 others suffered minor wounds, mostly from broken glass as the typhoon shattered windows and tore tiles off roofs. Around 200 buildings were damaged.
Climate change has been causing typhoons in the region to form closer to coastlines, intensify more rapidly, and last longer over land, according to a July study. A rapid attribution analysis by Imperial College London, using peer-reviewed methods, found Typhoon Shanshan’s winds were 26 percent more likely due to a warming planet. Ralf Toumi, director of the Grantham Institute at Imperial, warned that without phasing out fossil fuels, typhoons will continue to cause greater destruction in Japan.
Video captures Jeju Air 737 battling strong winds from Typhoon Shanshan during aborted landing in Fukuoka.
Flight 1408 from South Korea landed safely on another runway moments later.
Typhoon Shanshan slammed into Japan on Thursday, injuring dozens as howling winds smashed… pic.twitter.com/5mKw2jGyhi
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) August 29, 2024
Authorities issued the highest alert in several areas, advising over five million people to evacuate, though the actual number who did remains unclear. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued landslide warnings for many parts of Kyushu and areas as far as Shizuoka, the Tokyo region, and nearby Kanagawa. Footage from NHK showed vehicles half-submerged in brown water in a Kanagawa car park, as residents were urged to move to higher floors following a local river’s flooding.
Kyushu experienced record rainfall for August, with Misato recording 791.5 millimetres in 48 hours, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Kitakyushu saw 474 mm in 24 hours up to Friday morning, the highest since 2012. Nearby Kunimi recorded 384.5 mm, the most since records began in 1977.
Beppu, a holiday resort in Kyushu, saw no major damage, but tourists were stranded as the onsen hot springs and other attractions closed. “This is my first time. I was very much looking forward to it,” said Nobuhiko Takagishi from Tokyo. “But it will be a trip to remember. A trip when I couldn’t do anything.”
Power outages hit over 250,000 households in Kyushu, but by Friday, only 5,250 remained without electricity as engineers worked on repairs. Many motorways were closed in Kyushu and beyond, and Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended in Kyushu and between Tokyo and Osaka. Japan Airlines and ANA cancelled over 600 flights on Friday, having already cancelled a similar number the previous day, affecting nearly 50,000 passengers.
Four baseball games scheduled for the weekend in Nagoya and Nishinomiya were cancelled, along with five J-League football matches in various cities. Toyota extended a production halt at all 14 of its Japanese plants, and Nissan’s Kyushu factories remained closed.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Mycouriertribune reports that Typhoon Shanshan has caused widespread destruction in Japan, resulting in up to six deaths and significant damage, with evacuation orders issued for millions. The storm has disrupted transportation and power supplies, prompting major companies to suspend operations.(read more)
- Hindustan Times reports that a weakening typhoon has caused widespread damage in Japan, resulting in up to six deaths, with significant disruptions to transportation and power supplies.(read more)
- CBS News reports on Typhoon Shanshan, which has weakened to a tropical storm over Japan, causing at least three deaths, flooding, and extensive damage.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How strong was Typhoon Shanshan when it hit Japan?
Typhoon Shanshan had gusts up to 252 kph at landfall.
How many people were killed by Typhoon Shanshan?
Up to six people were killed by Typhoon Shanshan.
How has climate change affected typhoons in the region?
Typhoons are forming closer, intensifying rapidly, and lasting longer over land.
How many people were advised to evacuate due to Typhoon Shanshan?
More than five million people were advised to evacuate.
How many flights were canceled due to Typhoon Shanshan?
Japan Airlines and ANA canceled over 600 flights each day for two days.
