Typhoon Shanshan Hits Japan
Typhoon Shanshan officially hit southern Japan on Thursday morning.
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According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the typhoon made landfall around 8 a.m. local time. It first hit near Satsumasendai City, which is in the Kagoshima prefecture.
Millions Asked to Evacuate
This potentially dangerous typhoon has resulted in authorities releasing evacuation orders for almost one million people.
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At least eight cities have seen these evacuation orders. These cities and towns are mostly located on the Amami Islands, which are south of mainland Japan.
The Threat of a Large-Scale Disaster
Unfortunately, as this typhoon is very strong and incredibly slow-moving, officials have claimed that there is now a higher threat of there being a large-scale disaster.
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Typhoon Shanshan has incredibly strong and violent hurricane-like winds, as well as torrential rain. The possibility of tornadoes has also risen.
Deadly Landslides Could Occur
Because Shanshan is so slow-moving, some areas of Japan may experience a prolonged time under this storm and heavy rain.
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Authorities have warned the public that this could result in deadly landslides occurring, as well as possible flooding events.
High Waves
Experts have released some data about this typhoon as it hits parts of southern Japan. On Thursday, waves hit up to 30 feet high in southern Kyushu.
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Meanwhile, JMA is predicting that wind speeds may reach up to 45 meters per second. Over the next week, record-breaking rain is also supposed to hit areas of Japan, specifically the Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.
Record Breaking Rain
The JMA has also revealed that heavy rain will continue into the weekend, elevating the risk of flooding situations.
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So far, data has suggested that southern Kyushu could see an incredibly 39 inches of rain in the region, which would break various records.
Rare Emergency Warnings Issued
Because of this data and worrisome predictions, authorities have issued rare emergency warnings in the Kagoshima prefecture, mostly because of this storm surge and the high waves experienced.
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These warnings are quite rare, as they are normally only seen once every few decades.
The Threat of Tornadoes
Japanese locals must now deal with the threat of high waves, storm surges, torrential rain, violent winds, and possible landslide and flooding situations. But that’s not all.
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Weather experts have also sounded the alarm of potential tornadoes appearing. As a result, they’ve warned the public to pay attention to the weather and the sky in their region. All locals should stay inside and in sturdy buildings during these events.
A Deadly Event
Unfortunately, this typhoon has already become deadly. A family of five was reportedly buried in central Japan after a landslide forced their home to topple.
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Three people of this family were confirmed dead, while two daughters managed to survive, though with serious injuries.
Power Outages Seen
As Typhoon Shanshan hits parts of Japan, many areas have already experienced massive power outages, thanks to the heavy rain and strong winds.
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According to the Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Company, more than 234,000 people were without power on Thursday morning in Kyushu.
How Mainland Japan Will Be Affected
Authorities have warned that those in mainland Japan away from the typhoon will still experience extreme weather events.
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Western Japan and Eastern Japan have already seen very heavy rain and thunder on Thursday because of this storm. As a result, landslide warnings have been issued here, as well.