Japan… Violent Typhoon ‘Shanshan’ Causes Deadly Landslides

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One of the most violent typhoons Japan has experienced in decades caused heavy rains over the southern regions of the country on Thursday, leaving at least five dead and dozens injured, according to local media, while authorities warned of deadly floods and landslides.

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Typhoon “Shanshan” reached Kyushu, the main southern island of Japan, accompanied by fierce winds reaching speeds of up to 252 kilometers per hour, making it the strongest storm this year and among the most violent to hit land since 1960.

It later weakened, with maximum wind speeds dropping to 162 kilometers per hour, according to the Meteorological Agency, but it is still causing heavy rain over Kyushu and beyond as it slowly moves towards the island of Honshu.

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The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that “the risk of disaster due to heavy rain may increase rapidly in western Japan by Friday.”

Three members of the same family died in landslides on Tuesday night in Aichi Prefecture, located 1,000 kilometers from Kyushu, due to heavy rain preceding the typhoon’s arrival.

Authorities issued the highest level of alert in some areas and advised hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes, but it was unclear how many complied.

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The city of Kunisaki in the Oita region of Kyushu urged residents to “evacuate and go to a safe place or higher ground, like the second floor of their homes” due to the flood risk.

Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that one person went missing on Thursday, a man who was on a small boat, and two people were seriously injured.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that at least 80 people were injured across Kyushu.

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The rains turned rivers into torrents, winds shattered windows, and blew off roof tiles.

Student Aoi Nishimoto said he contacted his family in Miyazaki to check on them.

He told Agence France-Presse from the main city of Fukuoka, “Our house is intact, but a tornado hit Miyazaki, and the power is out in some places. It’s concerning.”

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Similarly, student Ryo Otsuru (19 years old) told Agence France-Presse, “This year, I am away from my family home for the first time. I feel a little scared being alone.”

Power was cut off in 187,010 homes across the island, according to the utility operator.