At least four people have been killed, nearly 100 injured and five million asked to evacuate in southwestern Japan as Typhoon Shanshan made landfall, bringing strong winds, torrential rains, and landslides.
Factories have been shuttered and hundreds of flights cancelled as the typhoon made landfall on the southwestern island of Kyushu on Thursday, with gusts of up to 123 mph, Japan’s meterological agency said.
Despite weakening since making landfall, the storm is moving northwards as slowly as 8mph, heightening the risk of flooding and landslides. Some areas already seen more than 700mm of rain, with fierce winds damaging houses, overturning cars and uprooting trees, while leaving 250,000 people without power.
Three people were killed when a landslide buried a house in the central Aichi prefecture, while an 80-year-old man died when a roof collapsed some 150 miles west in Tokushima, according to NHK, which reported at least 94 injuries.
After striking Kyushu over the next few days the storm is expected to approach central and eastern regions, including the capital Tokyo, forecasters said – but the typhoon’s path is proving difficult to predict.
Key Points
- 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
- Map shows Typhoon Shanshan moving north
- Typhoon Shanshan could lash Japan with up to 1000mm of rainfall
- Nearly a million people ordered to evacuate their homes
- Mapped: Where have evacuation orders been issued?
Storm claims fourth life as roof collapses
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
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'
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
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
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
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?
13:30
Stuti Mishra
Photos: Cars and trees toppled by wind gusts
12:45
Stuti Mishra
Photos: People await updates on their flights amid cancellations
12:00
Stuti Mishra
Rivers swell amid incessant rainfall
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
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
10:19
Stuti Mishra
'Put people’s safety first,' says Japanese PM Kishida
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
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
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
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
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
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.
'Put people’s safety first,' says Japanese PM Kishida
08:41
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.
Photos: Damaged walls, strong winds and heavy rains in Japan after Typhoon Shanshan
06:18
Stuti Mishra
Video: Strong winds and heavy rain in Makurazaki
05:32
Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Shanshan ripping walls off of buildings, knocking out power, and taking a toll on the city Makurazaki, Japan!! @MyRadarWX @OreboundImages @jpetramala #Japan #Shanshan pic.twitter.com/HmUoz88ksh
— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) August 28, 2024
600 flights cancelled, 250,000 without power
05:10
Stuti Mishra
More than 250,000 households across seven prefectures were left without power as the typhoon battered the region, according to Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Train services were also suspended in many parts of Kyushu.
Airlines, including ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines, have already announced cancellations of more than 600 domestic flights.
Typhoon Shanshan is the latest harsh weather system to hit Japan, following Typhoon Ampil, which also led to blackouts and evacuations, earlier this month.
Three dead and thousands without power as Typhoon Shanshan makes landfall in Japan
04:38
Stuti Mishra
Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in southwestern Japan this morning, claiming at least three lives and leaving one person missing as it unleashed powerful winds, torrential rains, and triggered landslides.
Two people also sustained severe injuries, and five others suffered minor injuries due to the storm.
The storm, which hit near Satsumasendai city on Kyushu island, brought gusts of up to 198km/h (123mph).
A quarter of a million people were left without power as footage from public broadcaster NHK showed walls brought down and windows broken in Miyazaki city in southern Kyushu.
Authorities have described Shanshan as potentially one of the strongest typhoons to ever strike the region. Factories were closed and hundreds of flights were cancelled ahead of its arrival.
Mapped: Key areas and likely landfall point as Typhoon Shanshan impacts Japan
03:58
Andy Gregory
Typhoon had sustained maximum winds of up to 100mph on Thursday morning, US centre says
03:13
Andy Gregory
Typhoon Shanshan had maximum sustained winds of between 95 and 100 mph in its eyewall – the destructive ring of thunderstorms surrounding the eye of the storm – on Thursday morning local time, the Washington Post reported, citing the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.
The typhoon was probably producing a storm surge of around 2 metres between Makurazaki and Ibusuki in southern Kyushu, the outlet reported.
Motorcyclist knocked down by wind on island of Amami
02:37
Andy Gregory
South of Kyushu, on the island of Amami, where the typhoon passed on Wednesday, one person was knocked down by a wind gust while riding a motorcycle, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.
Social media reports of tornado in southern Kyushu
01:41
Andy Gregory
Following some warnings that the typhoon could bring tornadoes, there were unconfirmed social media reports of at least one tornado emerging in southern Kyushu.
Storm chasers describe ‘complete whiteout’ reminiscent of ‘dementors in Harry Potter'
Thursday 29 August 2024 00:39
Andy Gregory
As the typhoon approached the southern coast of Kyushu, 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.”
Typhoon Shanshan appears to make landfall in southern Kyushu
Wednesday 28 August 2024 23:41
Andy Gregory
Typhoon Shanshan appeared to make landfall near Makurazaki on the southern island of Kyushu on Thursday morning local time.
Wind gusts reached speeds of 85mph while some parts of southern Kyushu had received over 380mm of rain by Thursday morning, despite the typoon having weakened from the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday to a Category 2 storm, the Washington Post reported.
Forecasting path of Typhoon Shanshan proving a rare challenge for meteorologists
Wednesday 28 August 2024 21:34
Andy Gregory
Meteorologists are struggling to chart the expected path of Typhoon Shanshan, which has been moving particularly slowly and whose route is dependent on a number of other weather systems at play in the region.
James Reynolds, who chases and documents tropical storms, told the Japan Times that he first drove to Osaka earlier this week to prepare for a then-forecast landfall in the Shikoku region. But after two days, he travelled to Tokyo and flew instead to Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday morning.
“Shanshan has been one of the bigger outliers among all the storms I’ve tracked in terms of the continued changes in forecast and how the computer weather models are handling it,” Mr Reynolds told the outlet.
Thousands watch livestream of famous palm tree being battered by Typhoon Shanshan
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:59
Andy Gregory
Thousands of people are watching a livestream of a famous palm tree in Kagoshima, nicknamed “Yasshi”, as it is buffeted by Typhoon Shanshan.
“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 appear to be watching it in the hopes of monitoring the palm tree’s fate.
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
Power cuts experienced in Kyushu
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:30
Andy Gregory
More than 76,000 buildings were without power in Kyushu, the Japan Times reported earlier, citing Kyushu Electric.
Around 66,000 of those outages were reported in the Kagoshima Prefecture, while some 9,000 were in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Japan urges people to heed evacuation warnings
Wednesday 28 August 2024 20:01
Stuti Mishra
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned that the risk of disaster could increase suddenly as the storm progresses.
Officials urged residents, especially older adults, to take shelter immediately if they feel unsafe.
“To protect your life and the lives of your loved ones, please flee to evacuation areas specified by local authorities and secure your safety,” said Satoshi Sugimoto, an official at the weather agency, speaking at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Bullet trains and postal services suspended in Kyushu
Wednesday 28 August 2024 19:32
Andy Gregory
Japan Railway companies said most bullet trains and local train services were operating normally on Wednesday, but many on the island of Kyushu would be suspended on Thursday.
Similar steps may be taken on the main island of Honshu throughout Sunday.
Postal and delivery services have been also suspended in the Kyushu region, and supermarkets and other stores announced plans to close early.
Aerial view shows impact of landslide hundreds of miles east of Kyushu
Wednesday 28 August 2024 19:03
Andy Gregory
An aerial view shows the search and rescue operation at a landslide site caused by a heavy rain due to the approach of Typhoon Shanshan in Gamagori, in Japan’s central Aichi Prefecture, hundreds of miles northeast of where the storm’s heaviest winds are currently battering Kyushu.
Japan cancels annual earthquake drills as it braces for Typhoon Shanshan
Wednesday 28 August 2024 18:46
Andy Gregory
The Japanese government has cancelled its annual earthquake drills planned for Sunday to free up disaster response resources to deal with Typhoon Shanshan, the Associated Press reports.
One person killed as landslide buries house with five people inside
Wednesday 28 August 2024 18:28
Andy Gregory
The warm, humid air around the typhoon and a separate high-pressure system has caused heavy rain in the central Japanese city of Gamagori, where a landslide buried a house with five people inside.
Four of them were rescued but one person later died, while workers were searching for the fifth person, according to the city’s disaster management department.
On the southern island of Amami, where the typhoon passed, one person was knocked down by a wind gust while riding a motorcycle, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.
Satellite imagery shows Typhoon Shanshan as it impacts southern Japan
Wednesday 28 August 2024 18:21
Andy Gregory
Satellite imagery shared by Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) has this view of Typhoon Shanshan as it impacts southern Japan.
Typhoon Shanshan continues to impact southern Japan. pic.twitter.com/udO76jiQXT
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) August 28, 2024
Japan forecasters issue highest warning for storms in parts of Kagoshima
Wednesday 28 August 2024 17:50
Andy Gregory
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued its highest “special warning” for violent storms, waves and high tides in parts of the Kagoshima Prefecture.
Such warnings are issued where typhoons are due to hit with a strength experienced in that region of Japan only once every few decades, according to the agency.
The warnings indicate the “possibility that a major disaster prompted by (the typhoon) is extremely high,” the agency’s chief forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.
In neighbouring Miyazaki Prefecture, footage broadcast by NHK TV showed roof tiles being blown off houses, broken windows and felled trees.
“Our carport roof was blown away in its entirety. I wasn’t at home when it happened, but my kids say they felt the shaking so strong they thought an earthquake happened,” a local resident in Miyazaki told NHK, according to AFP, adding: “I was surprised. It was completely beyond our imagination.”
Mapped: Where have evacuation orders been issued?
Wednesday 28 August 2024 17:42
Andy Gregory
Hundreds of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Shanshan approaches.
In Kagoshima Prefecture, emergency warnings were issued for storms and high waves – including the most severe level issued once every few decades for hundreds of homes on the island village of Mishima, south of Kyushu.
Evacuation orders were also issued in 27 cities in the Kagoshima Prefecture and parts of Miyazaki Prefecture, including the entire city of Miyazaki, which is home to more than 400,000 people, according to the Japan Times.
Despite being further from the storm and hundreds of miles northeast, evacuation orders were also issued in parts of the Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, where heavy rain has brought fears of landslides, with some families trapped in Aichi on Wednesday.
Path of typhoon proving difficult to predict
Wednesday 28 August 2024 17:05
Andy Gregory
Meteorologists are finding the path of Typhoon Shanshan highly unpredictable, with its slow-moving trajectory proving difficult to forecast and raising the prospects that parts of Kyusu could be hit for longer than expected, reports the Japan Times.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency stressed the typhoon’s slow pace at an earlier press conference, but said that southern Kyushu and the Amami Islands will experience extended periods of strong winds until Friday.
The storm is then expected to move to northern Kyushu, and then to the regions of Shikoku, Chugoku, and Kinki, which includes Osaka Prefecture, the outlet reported.
But the storm's exact path after moving over Kyushu is murky — it appears likely to move towards Honshu, but could also veer into the Sea of Japan or track to the south in the Pacific, according to the Japan Times.
Disasters minister warns of ‘unprecedented’ winds, rains and storm surges
Wednesday 28 August 2024 16:32
Andy Gregory
Weather and government officials are concerned about extensive damage across the nation as the typhoon slowly sweeps up the Japanese archipelago over the next few days, threatening floods and landslides and paralyzing transportation, businesses and other daily activity.
Disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura, at a taskforce meeting on Wednesday, said the typhoon could cause “unprecedented” levels of violent winds, high waves, storm surges and heavy rain.
He urged residents in Shanshan’s predicted path to take precautionary measures early, such as by checking their nearest shelters, to save their own lives. Matsumura urged residents, especially older adults, not to hesitate and take shelter whenever there is any safety concern.
Hundreds of flights cancelled
Wednesday 28 August 2024 16:08
Andy Gregory
Airline group ANA Holdings said it would cancel more than 210 domestic flights in total between Wednesday and Friday slated to leave or arrive in southwestern Japan, affecting about 18,400 passengers.
Japan Airlines said it would cancel 402 domestic flights over the same three-day period. A total of 10 international flights operated by both airlines will also be suspended.
Evacuation orders issued for nearly a million people
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:53
Andy Gregory
Nearly a million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Shanshan approaches.
According to the New York Times, some 990,000 people have been impacted by evacuation orders across southern, western and central Japan on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The evacuation orders have been issued in Kagoshima prefecture in southern Kyushu, and central Japan’s Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures.
Car manufacturers close factories as Japan braces for Typhoon Shanshan
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:49
Andy Gregory
Numerous companies are halting operations at their factories as they brace for Typhoon Shanshan.
Toyota, which is headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, will suspend operations at all 14 of its plants in Japan from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning, 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 plans to suspend operations at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants, both in western Japan, from Thursday evening through Friday, the firm said.
Two suspected residents of house that collapsed in landslide ‘unaccounted for'
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:47
Andy Gregory
In Aichi Prefecture, one of the areas subject to evacuation orders, two people believed to be residents of a house that collapsed in a landslide during heavy rains were unaccounted for, Reuters reported.
Three residents of the house had been pulled out, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Forecasters warn typhoon could bring unprecedented 600mm of rain in just 24 hours
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:37
Andy Gregory
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued emergency warnings for storms and high waves in Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami region, as the typhoon threatens flooding and landslides.
The agency has issued an unprecedented rain forecast of up to 23.6in (600mm) over the next 24 hours.
Japan on high alert as Typhoon Shanshan approaches
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:36
Andy Gregory
Japan is on high alert as powerful Typhoon Shanshan edges closer, with high waves and wind prompting flight cancellations, train suspensions, and factory shutdowns.
The storm is expected to hit southern Kyushu on Thursday, with winds reaching up to 155mph (250kph) at its centre, strong enough to topple houses.
On Wednesday, the storm was 70km south-southwest of Yakushima Island, moving slowly northward off the country’s southwest coast, bringing extreme winds and heavy rain.
My colleague Stuti Mishra has more in this report:
Wednesday 28 August 2024 15:34
Andy Gregory
We’ll be using this blog to bring you the latest updates on Typhoon Shanshan as it passes across Japan, where nearly a million residents have now been ordered to evacuate.
