Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan, millions asked to evacuate

At least three people have died and dozens have been injured so far in the storm, which authorities warn could be one of the strongest ever to hit the area.

Toyota has suspended operations at all factories, while other automakers Nissan, Honda and semiconductor companies Renesas and Tokyo Electric have also halted production at some plants.

Typhoon Shanshan caused extensive damage in Miyazaki, Japan. Photo: Kyodo

Authorities said more than 5.2 million people had received evacuation orders across the country, mainly in Kyushu but also in parts of central Japan, where heavy rains triggered landslides on Wednesday.

Funeral home worker Tomoki Maeda was in a hearse when the typhoon hit the city of Miyazaki in southern Kyushu, shattering windows, collapsing power lines and walls of some buildings.

"I have never seen such strong winds or tornadoes in my 31 years of life," Maeda told Reuters.

More than 200,000 households in seven prefectures were without power by Thursday afternoon, Kyushu Electric Power Co. said earlier that there was no impact on the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Satsumasendai City, where the typhoon made landfall.

Airlines including ANA and Japan Airlines have announced nearly 800 flight cancellations. Train services have been suspended in many areas of Kyushu, while hundreds of bus and ferry services have also been halted, according to Japan's transport ministry .

Location and direction of typhoon Shanshan as of early this morning. Graphic photo: Japan Meteorological Agency

The Japan Meteorological Agency called Typhoon Shanshan "very strong" before it made landfall in Kyushu early Thursday, but dropped that term in the afternoon. It also downgraded a special typhoon warning issued for most of Kagoshima Prefecture.

The agency said the storm appeared near Yufu, Oita Prefecture, as of 5 a.m. Friday and was moving slowly northeast with winds of up to 126 kilometers per hour.

The statement added that after moving over Kyushu, the typhoon is expected to enter central and eastern Japan, including the capital Tokyo, around the weekend.

Bui Huy (according to Kyodo, NHK, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/sieu-bao-shanshan-gay-ra-nhieu-thiet-hai-o-nhat-ban-dang-huong-den-tokyo-post309937.html