Japan readies for the impending landfall of formidable typhoon "Shanshan"
A colossal typhoon is making its way towards southern Japan, predicted to unleash massive winds and torrential downpours, as per government predictions. Spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi cautioned on Wednesday about an "unprecedented tempest" of epic proportions, an occurrence that many folk haven't encountered before. Typhoon "Shanshan" is marching towards the southern isle of Kyushu, packing winds of up to 252 kilometers per hour, potentially making landfall there.
The storm has already drenched vast areas of Japan. In the middle prefecture of Aichi, a surge of mud, rocks, and other debris swept away a residence housing a family of five. Regrettably, three family members remain unaccounted for. Given the meteorological forecasts, Toyota Motor Corporation has temporarily halted operations in all 14 of its Japanese manufacturing plants.
Various Japanese airlines have annulled hundreds of domestic flights from Wednesday to Thursday, with a few international flights similarly impacted. The Kyushu Railway company forecasts disruptions and cancellations on the southern isle as well. As per the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), by Thursday morning, the southern section of Kyushu could see up to 500 millimeters of rain, potentially increasing to another 600 millimeters within the ensuing 24 hours.
Due to the downpour, local authorities on Kyushu in Kagoshima have issued evacuation advisories for 56,000 individuals. On the mainland island of Honshu, in the central prefecture of Shizuoka, authorities have urged 810,000 residents to evacuate their residences and apartments.
Hardly two weeks ago, Typhoon "Ampil" led to flight and train cancellations across Japan despite considerable rainfall. Damage was relatively minimal. Recent scientific research suggests that typhoons are developing closer to the coasts due to climate change, and they're intensifying more rapidly and enduring longer over land.
The extreme winds and heavy rain from Typhoon "Shanshan" are expected to surpass anything previously encountered, making it an extreme weather event of unprecedented severity. Given the extreme conditions, many in Kyushu have been advised to evacuate their homes as a precautionary measure.
