Millions of people evacuated in Japan due to Typhoon Shanshan, 3 people dead
Aftermath of Typhoon Shanshan in Japan (GettyImages)
Typhoon Shanshan struck southwestern Japan today, causing mass evacuations, significant infrastructure damage, and fatalities. Three deaths have been reported so far, according to Reuters.
On Thursday, millions of Japanese citizens were ordered to evacuate their homes due to strong winds and torrential rains, which left thousands of homes without power, paralyzed air and rail services, and forced the closure of major industrial enterprises.
Currently, reports indicate at least three fatalities and 45 injuries as a result of the typhoon. According to Kyushu Electric Power Co, around 230,000 households across seven prefectures were left without power.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that in addition to the three deaths, one person is missing.
Japanese authorities warn that the typhoon could become one of the most powerful ever recorded in the region.
Due to the typhoon, major companies like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, as well as semiconductor manufacturers Renesas and Tokyo Electron, temporarily suspended operations at their factories.
It has been confirmed that the Sendai nuclear power plant, located in the city of Satsumasendai, was not damaged and continues to operate normally.
Winds are currently reaching speeds of 50 meters per second (180 km/h) and are moving north, approaching the city of Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture.
According to local resident Tomoki Maeda, a funeral home worker who was in a hearse during the storm, the typhoon caused devastating damage to the city of Miyazaki, destroying walls and shattering windows in many buildings.
"I've never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life," he said.
Typhoon Shanshan in Japan
Yesterday, we reported that airlines had already canceled flights due to the storm, and rail services had been suspended in some regions. 800,000 residents on Kyushu Island and in the central prefectures of Aichi and Shizuoka had been ordered to evacuate, but today this number has increased.
Meteorologists warn that the typhoon could approach central and eastern regions of the country today.
Typhoons are a fairly common occurrence in Japan. For instance, the recent Typhoon Ampil forced the country to cancel hundreds of flights and evacuate tens of thousands of people.
We also reported earlier that Typhoon Maria had paralyzed air and rail traffic.
