Japan is bracing for the impact of Typhoon Shanshan, a powerful storm that is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the southern island of Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued its highest emergency alert for Kagoshima prefecture, emphasizing the severity of the impending threat.
Shanshan, currently classified as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (176 kilometers) per hour near its center. The JMA forecasts the storm to intensify as it approaches Kyushu on Thursday. The southern part of the island is predicted to receive an astonishing 600 millimeters (24 inches) of rain within a 24-hour period, ending at 12 p.m. local time on Thursday.
The slow pace at which Shanshan has been moving towards Japan throughout this week has already resulted in prolonged periods of rain and wind across affected areas. The JMA anticipates maximum sustained winds to further increase to 100 knots, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, which is considered a major storm.
The storm’s impact is already being felt across various sectors. Kyushu Electric Power Co., responsible for providing power to the region, has announced it will shut down two units at its Ohira pumped-storage power station on Thursday. Over 13,000 buildings in Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures have been affected by power outages, according to Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co.
Manufacturing operations are also being disrupted. Toyota Motor Corp., a major automaker, has decided to suspend operations at all 14 of its plants from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. The company will reassess the situation and determine whether to resume operations after Thursday morning.
Transportation networks are taking precautionary measures to minimize disruptions. Japan Airlines Co. has announced the cancellation of 110 domestic flights on Wednesday, with an additional 60 cancellations scheduled for Thursday. All Nippon Airways Co. has also made the decision to cancel over 200 flights between Wednesday and Friday. Kyushu Railway Co. has announced adjustments to local services between Wednesday and Thursday. Central Japan Railway Co. has warned that the Tokaido bullet train, connecting Tokyo to western parts of the country, may be affected from Thursday into the weekend depending on the storm’s path.
The storm’s arrival has triggered widespread preparations across Kyushu as authorities and residents brace for the potentially devastating impact of Typhoon Shanshan.
