Typhoon Shanshan Ravages Japan
Kyushu, The Gulf Observer: Typhoon Shanshan, the most powerful storm to strike Japan this year and one of the most intense at landfall in recent decades, has wreaked havoc across the southern island of Kyushu. The storm, which made landfall early Thursday morning, unleashed howling winds of up to 198 kilometers (123 miles) per hour, smashing windows, tearing tiles off roofs, and turning rivers into raging torrents.
Authorities issued their highest alert level in several regions, urging hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate amid warnings of “life-threatening” flooding, landslides, and storm surges. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) cautioned that the risk of disaster could escalate rapidly as the storm moves toward western Japan, with special warnings issued for violent storms, high waves, and high tides in Kagoshima.
In the coastal city of Miyazaki, the typhoon left behind a trail of destruction, with 26 people reported injured, some due to a tornado that accompanied the storm. A disaster official confirmed that 156 buildings were damaged. Broadcaster NHK reported a total of 39 injuries across affected areas, with one person missing. Fortunately, most injuries were non-life-threatening, with many caused by shattered windows.
The typhoon’s impact has been felt since Tuesday, with heavy rains lashing large parts of the country. In a tragic incident earlier in the week, three members of a family lost their lives in a landslide that buried their home in Gamagori, a city in central Aichi Prefecture. The victims included a couple in their 70s and their son in his 30s, while two adult daughters in their 40s survived with injuries.
As Shanshan continues its rampage, the JMA has forecasted an enormous 1,100 millimeters (43 inches) of precipitation for southern Kyushu over the next 48 hours. The unrelenting downpours have already caused rivers to overflow and hillsides to collapse, exacerbating the threat of further landslides.
The impact on transportation has been significant, with Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceling 542 domestic flights, disrupting travel plans for nearly 40,000 passengers.
Experts have linked the increasing intensity and frequency of typhoons in the region to the ongoing climate crisis. A recent study highlighted that typhoons are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly, and lingering longer over land, making them even more destructive.
As Typhoon Shanshan moves further inland, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to heed evacuation orders and stay vigilant in the face of ongoing dangers.
