Tens of thousands of people have been asked to evacuate in Tokyo as Shanshan, now a tropical storm, continued its northward march across the country.
At least four people have died and dozens were injured as the storm made landfall as a typhoon on Thursday, one of the most powerful to hit the country’s southwest in decades.
An 80-year-old man is the latest to be reported dead in the storm, after three died in landslides earlier.
The storm was moving slowly toward the northeast at the speed of 10km/h, and is expected to reach Tokyo by the weekend.
It was near Kunisaki in Oita Prefecture as of Friday morning, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 72km/h and gusts reaching up to 108km/h.
Some areas have already seen record rainfall totals with key rivers swelling up, prompting flooding fears.
Three rivers in Tokyo — Meguro, Nogawa and Sengawa — are under a Level 4 warning issued by the weather agency.
Several train lines are still impacted and many cities are under emergency alerts.
Key Points
- Evacuation alerts issued for parts of Tokyo
- Thousands without power as Typhoon Shanshan makes landfall in Japan
- At least four dead and 94 injured as storm triggers flooding, fierce winds and landslides
Photos: Businesses clean up after flooding
09:15
Stuti Mishra
Roads littered with debris and typhoon force winds, photos show Shanshan's impact
08:45
Stuti Mishra
Photos and videos posted by residents show the impact of Storm Shanshan.
My Daughter and son in-law are currently in Tokyo.
— John Metzner (@JohnRMetzner) August 29, 2024
Typhoon Shanshan slams Japanese island killing three, leaving one missing, and thousands without power
The storm has caused widespread damage on Kyushu Island, including landslides that have destroyed homes, and an emergency… pic.twitter.com/ye0W0I3nds
Photo: Car submerged as roads turn into rivers
08:15
Stuti Mishra
Japan asked to brace for 'prolonged and widespread' rainfall
07:40
Stuti Mishra
At a Friday news conference, land minister Tetsuo Saito urged people to stay alert as Tropical Storm Shanshan, though moving east, remains difficult to track.
“Heavy rainfall and other effects may be prolonged and widespread,” Mr Saito warned, according to Japan Times.
The land ministry said storm damage, including 13 landslides in Miyazaki Prefecture, water outages in Kagoshima and Oita, and sunken fishing boats in Kagoshima and Miyazaki. A landslide in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture, caused a road blockage.
“Please continue to check the weather and evacuation information,” he advised.
Where is the storm now?
06:55
Stuti Mishra
Tropical Storm Shanshan has left Kyushu and is now moving northeast toward Shikoku island.
As of noon local time on Friday, it was near Yanai city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, bringing winds of up to 108km/h.
The storm has caused power outages for over 100,000 households in Kyushu, mainly in Kagoshima.
Heavy rain is expected to continue in the affected areas, including Kanto.
Power outages have also been reported in Tochigi, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa.
Four dead so far
06:07
Stuti Mishra
An 80-year-old man died when a roof collapsed some 150 miles west in Tokushima, according to NHK, taking the death toll to four.
Earlier, three people were killed when a landslide buried a house in the central Aichi prefecture.Dozens of people have also sustained injuries as the storm tracks across Japan’s main islands.
Evacuation alerts issued for parts of Tokyo
05:21
Stuti Mishra
Evacuation orders have been issued in several areas of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture due to the risk of landslides.In Tokyo, these orders affect multiple cities in the western part of the region, including all of Hachioji, Tama, and Machida, as well as parts of Chofu, Fuchu, Nishitokyo, and Mitaka. Central areas like Setagaya and Suginami wards are also impacted. Over 146,000 people in Tama and over 102,000 people in Machida are affected.Kanagawa has issued evacuation orders in more than 30 cities and towns, including parts of Yokohama and Atsugi.Evacuation orders are also in place across various cities and towns in all prefectures of the Kyushu region, as well as in Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi in Shikoku. Additionally, parts of Aichi and Shizuoka remain under evacuation orders.
Rivers breach flood danger levels
04:38
Stuti Mishra
Multiple rivers have swelled after incessant rainfall in the last two days, reaching dangerous levels and prompting flooding concerns.
Early on Friday a level 4 flood danger alert – the second highest on a five-tier scale – was issued for Tokyo's Meguro River.
More alerts have also been issued for multiple wards near the Meguro, Nogawa and Sengawa rivers, including Meguro, Shinagawa, Setagaya, Mitaka City, Fuchu City, Chofu City, Koganei City, and Komae City.
Bullet trains in Tokyo region suspended as storm approaches
03:55
Andy Gregory
Hundreds of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities and islands were cancelled on Thursday, and bullet trains and some local train services were suspended.
In the Tokyo region, Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Tokyo and Osaka were suspended starting Thursday evening due to heavy rain in the central region. Bullet train service also was to be suspended in parts of the western and central regions on Friday.
As the storm headed northeast, similar steps were taken in parts of the main island of Honshu that were experiencing heavy rain. Postal and delivery services were suspended in the Kyushu region, and supermarkets and other stores planned to close.
Satellite images show storm as it passes over Japan
02:56
Andy Gregory
Here is the most recent satellite view of the severe tropical storm as it passes over Japan, via Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.
Typhoon Shanshan made landfall on the Japanese island of Kyushu earlier today.
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) August 29, 2024
The storm is expected to continue to impact Japan in the coming days with heavy rain and strong winds. pic.twitter.com/AbjTeo9KC1
Car manufacturers close factories
01:55
Andy Gregory
Numerous companies have halted operations at their factories as the severe tropical storm hits Japan.
Toyota, which is headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, suspended operations at all 14 of its plants in Japan from Wednesday evening, it said.
Nissan said it would suspend operations at its Kyushu plant on Thursday and Friday morning, while Honda will also temporarily close its factory in Kumamoto in southwestern Kyushu.
Also, Mazda Motor planned to suspend operations at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants, both in western Japan, from Thursday evening, the firm said.
Storm chasers describe ‘complete whiteout’ reminiscent of ‘dementors in Harry Potter’
Friday 30 August 2024 00:54
Andy Gregory
As the typhoon approached the southern coast of Kyushu in the small hours of Thursday, storm chaser James Reynolds described a “complete whiteout at times” in Makurazaki, as the eyewall of the typhoon brought fierce winds, sheets of rain and infrequent lightning, leaving its harbour a “churning cauldron”.
In further X posts on Thursday morning local time, Mr Reynolds described widespread power outages and blocked roads as he shared footage of trees uprooted and rivers gushing with rainwater.
Fellow storm chaser Jonathan Petramala, also shared footage of the swirling blankets of rain in Makurazaka, writing: “This vortex in the inner eye wall ... reminds me of the Dementors in HarryPotter”.
After returning to his hotel, Mr Petramala wrote: “The eye wall is still grinding over us ... The whole building is shaking.”
Thousands watch livestream of famous palm tree being battered by Typhoon Shanshan
Thursday 29 August 2024 23:56
Andy Gregory
In case you missed it yesterday as Shanshan made landfall, thousands of people across Japan were watching a livestream of a famous palm tree in Kagoshima, nicknamed “Yasshi”, as it was buffeted by the storm.
“Yasshi is located next to a resort hotel and became famous for surviving major typhoons,” Dr Jeffrey J Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies, said on X, adding: “Hang in there, Yasshi! You can survive this!”
While the livestream has currently lost its connection, thousands still appeared to be watching it in the hopes of monitoring the palm tree’s fate. By Thursday morning, the tree still appeared to be standing strong.
The hotel previously made a towel commemorating Yasshi’s survival over typhoons in the past two years, according to Dr Hall.
Yasshi is located next to a resort hotel and became famous for surviving major typhoons. Here is a photo of a towel the hotel made commemorating Yasshi's brave victory over typhoons that hit the area in 2022 and 2023.https://t.co/E5Qy8II5jY
— Jeffrey J. Hall (@mrjeffu) August 28, 2024
Multiple Tokyo rivers breach flood danger levels
Thursday 29 August 2024 22:57
Andy Gregory
Flood danger levels have been breached in multiple rivers across Tokyo, national broadcaster NHK reports, citing Japan’s Meteorological Agency.
Alerts have been issued for multiple wards near the Meguro, Nogawa and Sengawa rivers, including Meguro, Shinagawa, Setagaya, Mitaka City, Fuchu City, Chofu City, Koganei City, and Komae City.
High waves pictured on South Korean coast
Thursday 29 August 2024 21:58
Andy Gregory
High waves were pictured hitting Haeundae Beach in South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan, as Typhoon Shanshan passes through the region to the southeast.
Watch: Plane aborts landing in powerful winds brought by Typhoon Shanshan
Thursday 29 August 2024 21:01
Andy Gregory
Pictured: Heavy rainfall in Tokyo as capital braces for storm
Thursday 29 August 2024 20:30
Andy Gregory
Rain lashed Tokyo on Thursday as the capital awaits the severe tropical storm slowly winding its way up the Japanese archipelago, bringing strong rain and winds hundreds of miles from the storm’s centre.
Travellers express fears of becoming stuck due to storm
Thursday 29 August 2024 20:00
Andy Gregory
Travellers have expressed fears of becoming stuck as the storm impacts swathes of Japan.
Norimasa Sakanoshita, a 47-year-old who had travelled from Tokyo for a meeting in Fukuoka, was quoted as saying by the BBC, citing Reuters: “This typhoon is scary. In terms of disaster, we are getting a large amount of rain so I don’t know what will happen going forward.”
Leila Wong, a tourist from New York , said she was stranded in Fukuoka after trains to Tokyo were cancelled.
“I’m concerned because I obviously do not want to miss our flights back to New York on September 2nd,” she was quoted as saying. “If the power failures continue to go on for the next couple of days, then ... we’ll be stuck here a little bit longer.”
Undertaker describes being in hearse when storm struck Miyazaki
Thursday 29 August 2024 19:28
Andy Gregory
Funeral parlour employee Tomoki Maeda was in a hearse when the typhoon struck in Miyazaki city in southern Kyushu, shattering windows and tearing down power lines and the walls of some buildings.
“I’ve never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life,” he told Reuters.
Two more cities in Oita prefecture issue most severe disaster warnings
Thursday 29 August 2024 19:00
Andy Gregory
Two more cities in the Oita prefecture – inhabited by nearly 30,000 people – were issued with the highest level of emergency warnings on Thursday, the Japan Times reported.
Kunisaki issued the Level 5 alert – meaning disaster is impending and immediate life-saving action should be taken – at 2:15pm for nearly 4,000 households in the Aki-machi area of the city, after the Aki River overflowed due to heavy rainfall. Lower Level 4 orders – denoting a high risk of disaster – remain in place for the rest of the city.
Bungotakada issued its warning less than half an hour later for nearly 11,000 households due to the threat of flooded rivers and landslides.
In pictures: Storm floods streets and raises rivers in Kyushu
Thursday 29 August 2024 18:28
Andy Gregory
With the storm moving at bicycle speed across Japan, officials fear the intensified local rainfall could cause heavy flooding and landslides. Here are some images from the island of Kyushu:
110mm of rain fell in an hour in location of fatal roof collapse
Thursday 29 August 2024 17:59
Andy Gregory
There was 110mm of rain in the space of an hour near Kamiita-cho, where an 80-year-old man was killed when a roof collapsed on Thursday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
For context, London experiences an average of just 69mm of rain across the whole month of January, according to the Met Office.
Man in his 60s missing after falling from boat, reports say
Thursday 29 August 2024 17:31
Andy Gregory
A man in his 60s is missing after falling into the sea from a small boat in Kagoshima City, according to reports.
A body was found nearby on Thursday afternoon by the coast guard and they are investigating whether there is any connection, NHK reported.
Storm claims fourth life as roof collapses
Thursday 29 August 2024 16:57
Andy Gregory
An 80-year-old man is reported to be the fourth person to have died in the storm.
The man was trapped in Tokushima prefecture after the roof of a house collapsed, according to national broadcaster NHK.
He was rescued nearly an hour later but died in hospital, NHK reports.
Three others were killed in a landslide which buried a house in the central Aichi prefecture, around 150 miles east of Tokushima.
At least 94 people have been injured in the storm as it triggers flooding, fierce winds and landslides, NNK reports.
Images show destruction caused by fierce winds in Miyazaki
Thursday 29 August 2024 16:46
Andy Gregory
Here are some images of the destruction wrought by fierce winds in Miyazaki, southern Kyushu, as the typhoon made landfall.
In one, what appears to be a mangled metal roof can be seen wrapped around power lines and trees.
Other images show the wall of a house which has been destroyed, while in another roof tiles and other debris are scattered across the street.
'Never experienced such a strong wind'
Thursday 29 August 2024 16:20
Andy Gregory
Funeral parlour employee Tomoki Maeda was in a hearse when the typhoon struck in Miyazaki city in southern Kyushu, shattering windows and tearing down walls of some buildings.
"I've never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life," Maeda told Reuters.
Factories shut down in Japan
Thursday 29 August 2024 15:45
Stuti Mishra
Carmaker Toyota suspended operations in all of its domestic plants ahead of the storm, while Nissan, Honda and chipmakers Renesas and Tokyo Electron also temporarily halted production at some factories as Typhoon Shanshan lashed the country.
Recap: Storm Shanshan wreaks havoc across Japan
Thursday 29 August 2024 15:00
Stuti Mishra
Here’s everything that has happened so far:
Fatalities and injuries: At least three people died, and 50 were injured after Storm Shanshan hit southern Japan on Thursday.
Evacuations and power outages: Millions were ordered to evacuate, with nearly 250,000 households losing power, mainly in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Impact: Shanshan made landfall as a typhoon with winds up to 200 km/h before weakening to a tropical storm. It caused significant damage, including toppling trees, flooding rivers, and shattering windows.
Rainfall and flood risk: Miyazaki Prefecture experienced nearly two feet of rain, surpassing its monthly average. Additional heavy rainfall and potential floods are expected in Kyushu and Yamaguchi.
Train cancelled for Friday
Thursday 29 August 2024 14:15
Stuti Mishra
Several train operators are announcing cancellations on Friday as heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Shanshan continue to lash Japan’s southern regions.
JR Tokai suspended Tokaido Shinkansen services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka on Thursday, according to Japan Times.
Trains were either stopped at the next station or returned to their starting point.
On Friday, the line between Mishima and Nagoya will also be suspended, with reduced services on other sections. JR Tokai warned that plans could change if weather conditions worsen.
Typhoon Shanshan path: Where is storm heading next?
Thursday 29 August 2024 13:30
Stuti Mishra
Photos: Cars and trees toppled by wind gusts
Thursday 29 August 2024 12:45
Stuti Mishra
Photos: People await updates on their flights amid cancellations
Thursday 29 August 2024 12:00
Stuti Mishra
Rivers swell amid incessant rainfall
Thursday 29 August 2024 11:20
Stuti Mishra
Multiple rivers across southern Japan area are under threat from possible flooding amid historic levels of rainfall in the region as a result of Typhoon Shanshan.
The storm, which has now been downgraded, has already lashed up to 700mm of rainfall in some regions, with forecasters saying the rainfall totals can be as high as 1000mm in the next few days.
Shanshan downgraded to a severe tropical storm
Thursday 29 August 2024 10:45
Stuti Mishra
Shanshan, earlier a typhoon, has now been downgraded to a severe tropical storm by the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) as it slowly crawls north.
On Thursday evening, the storm was near the city of Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, with a central pressure reading of 980 hectopascals, maximum sustained wind speeds of 108kmp/h and gusts reaching up to 162 kmp/h.
The Kyushu area remains in the storm’s centre where strong winds toppled cars and trees.
Heavy rainfall is lashing a wide area across the nation leaving dozens injured and three dead.
Watch: Typhoon Shanshan impacts southern Japan
Thursday 29 August 2024 10:19
Stuti Mishra
'Put people’s safety first,' says Japanese PM Kishida
Thursday 29 August 2024 09:45
Stuti Mishra
Prime minister Fumio Kishida called for urgent action from ministers while prioritising public safety.
“Please continue to put people’s safety first and cooperate closely with local authorities to take all possible measures to keep the public informed, support evacuation in advance in areas where danger is anticipated, and maintain a well-prepared disaster response centred on the police, fire department, and Self-Defense Forces,” he said at a meeting, according to the Japan Times.
74 people injured
Thursday 29 August 2024 09:12
Stuti Mishra
Japanese officials are continuing to assess the scale of damage from heavy rainfall, wind gusts and landslides with the number of people known to have been injured steadily rising.
As of Thursday evening local time, that tally stands at 74, while one person is missing due to the storm, according to NHK.
Out of these, 30 were in Miyazaki, 23 in Kagoshima, six in Nagasaki, four in Kumamoto and Saga, two in Fukuoka and Oita and one in Mie.
The death toll still stands at 3.
Over 5 million evacuating as Typhoon Shanshan lashes Japan
Thursday 29 August 2024 08:40
Stuti Mishra
More than 5.2 million people have been issued evacuation notices across the country, authorities said, as Typhoon Shanshan brought historic rainfall, destructive winds and landslides.
Scores of houses were damaged with dozens of people injured with three confirmed dead.
A level 4 evacuation order is currently in place for parts of Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Ehime, Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka and Mie either due to the risk of heavy rainfall, flooding or landslides. The maximum strength of the orders is level 5.
Scores of homes damaged as Typhoon Shanshan wreaks havoc
Thursday 29 August 2024 08:02
Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Shanshan has caused significant damage to homes and properties after making landfall in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima.
The powerful storm hit the city of Satsuma Sendai early Thursday, bringing violent winds and torrential rains that have devastated the region.
In Miyazaki City, over 160 buildings suffered damage, including 69 residential properties and 35 commercial structures, according to Japan Times.
Residents in the Shirokase area of Miyazaki reported sudden, fierce winds that shattered windows and caused injuries.
At least three deaths have been confirmed so far and dozens were hurt.
However, more than 250,000 households across seven prefectures remained without power.
There's also a risk that typhoon’s winds are strong enough to potentially cause structural damage to some houses.
Typhoon Shanshan could lash Japan with up to 1000mm of rainfall
Thursday 29 August 2024 07:25
Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Shanshan has been downgraded and emergency warnings for storms and high waves have come down from the highest alert level across much of Kyushu prefecture after it made landfall there at 8am this morning.
However, despite the downgrade, residents were urged to take precautions with forecasts showing historic rainfall.
Over the past 48 hours, some areas have been hit with more than 700mm (about 27.5 inches) of torrential rain.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency warned that certain areas could see a total of 1,000mm (about 39 inches) of rain over the next couple of days.
The JMA warns that additional heavy rain clouds are likely to form over large parts of Kyushu, as well as in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the Shikoku region, through Friday.
This increases the risk of rain-related disasters.
Map shows Typhoon Shanshan moving north
Thursday 29 August 2024 06:45
Stuti Mishra
The latest forecasts show Typhoon Shanshan will continue moving northwards through Japan, making its way to Tokyo by the weekend.
The storm is moving at a speed of 15km/h and is expected to hover over Kyushu before making its way towards central and eastern Japan.
