A powerful typhoon is hurtling towards Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, prompting warnings of violent winds, high waves, and storm surges.
Typhoon Shanshan, classified as “extremely strong,” is expected to make landfall in the coming hours, bringing with it gusts of up to 252 kilometres (157 miles) per hour and heavy rain.
Authorities have issued evacuation advisories to over 800,000 people in the affected areas, with many more urged to take precautions. Toyota has suspended production at all 14 of its Japanese factories as a precautionary measure.
“Typhoon Shanshan is expected to approach southern Kyushu with extremely strong force through Thursday and it may make landfall.
“It is expected that violent winds, high waves, and storms surge at levels that many people have never experienced before may occur,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of heavy rain and issued a special heavy rain alert for Kagoshima prefecture. Flights and train services have been cancelled, with disruptions expected to continue in the coming days.
Japan Airlines cancelled 172 domestic flights and six international flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, while ANA nixed 219 domestic flights and four international ones on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
“It’s necessary for us to be on the highest alert,” a weather agency official said in a morning news conference, calling for people to evacuate before any violent storm emerges.
Kyushu is home to 12.5 million people. Southern Kyushu is expected to see 500 millimetres (20 inches) of rain in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, and 600 millimetres in the 24 hours to Friday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.