Japan Braces for Typhoon Shanshan: Emergency Measures in Full Swing
Typhoon Shanshan Moves Closer to Japan’s Southwest
Japan is on high alert as Typhoon Shanshan, a powerful storm, makes its way toward the southwest of the country. With its expected impact, authorities on Kyushu and Honshu islands are taking extensive measures to protect residents, including ordering evacuations and suspending major operations.
Current Situation and Impact
As of 2 PM local time on Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that Typhoon Shanshan was positioned just 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Yakushima Island. The storm is advancing northward towards Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures on Kyushu island. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi has warned that Shanshan will hit southern Kyushu with “extremely strong force” on Thursday, bringing with it gusts of up to 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour) and severe high waves.
Evacuations and Travel Disruptions
In preparation for the typhoon, over 800,000 residents in Kagoshima, Aichi, and Shizuoka prefectures have been ordered to evacuate. In response to the storm, carmaker Toyota has announced the suspension of operations at all 14 of its plants in Japan from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.
Travel disruptions are also significant. Japan Airlines has canceled 172 domestic and six international flights for Wednesday and Thursday. ANA has removed 219 domestic and four international flights from its schedule for Wednesday through Friday. These cancellations are expected to affect around 25,000 passengers.
Transportation and Service Disruptions
The Kyushu Railway Company will suspend some Shinkansen bullet train services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima Chuo starting Wednesday night. There are also warnings of possible cancellations of trains between Tokyo and Fukuoka, depending on weather conditions. Postal and delivery services in Kyushu have been halted, and supermarkets and stores are planning to close early to ensure safety.
Recent Weather Patterns and Future Precautions
Typhoon Shanshan follows Typhoon Ampil, which also led to significant disruptions earlier this month, including blackouts and canceled flights and trains. This comes shortly after Tropical Storm Maria, which caused record rainfall in northern areas. Recent studies indicate that typhoons are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more quickly, and lingering longer over land due to climate change.
Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura is advising residents in Shanshan’s projected path to take early precautionary actions, such as locating their nearest shelters, to ensure their safety.
Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops and follow local guidance to stay safe during this severe weather event.
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