Typhoon Shanshan has caused widespread chaos across southwestern Japan, prompting the evacuation of millions as the storm battered the region with violent winds and torrential rainfall. The typhoon, one of the most powerful storms to hit the area in recent history, has resulted in at least three deaths and left dozens injured. Authorities warned that the worst might not be over as the storm continues its path northward, with the potential to affect central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend.
The storm’s impact was severe, with gusts reaching up to 180 km/h (112 mph), causing power outages in over 200,000 households across seven prefectures. In Miyazaki city, southern Kyushu, strong winds shattered windows and downed power lines, leaving destruction in their wake. Funeral parlor worker Tomoki Maeda, who was caught in the storm, described it as the strongest wind he had ever experienced in his life.
Industries were hit hard by the typhoon, with major automakers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda suspending operations at their domestic plants due to safety concerns. The storm also disrupted production at semiconductor companies like Renesas and Tokyo Electron. The closures come as Japan grapples with increasing natural disasters, causing significant economic disruption.
More than 5.2 million people have been told to evacuate, mainly in Kyushu, but evacuation orders have also been issued in central regions affected by heavy rain and landslides. Elderly evacuees have been housed in emergency shelters, including a hotel in Hitoyoshi city, where all prior reservations were canceled to accommodate displaced residents.
Transportation across the affected regions has been paralyzed, with almost 800 flights canceled by airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines. Train services in Kyushu have also been suspended, alongside hundreds of halted bus and ferry routes.
Typhoon Shanshan is part of a series of severe weather events that have struck Japan recently, following Typhoon Ampil earlier in the month, which similarly led to widespread power outages and evacuations. Authorities continue to monitor the storm’s progress, urging caution as the storm advances toward more populated regions.