Japan Typhoon Shanshan Live: Evacuation orders issued for parts of Tokyo as storm expected to bring heavy rain for several days

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the safety of the people was his top priority, but called on his cabinet ministers to take urgent action.

“Please continue to give top priority to the safety of the people, work closely with local governments, and take all possible measures, such as providing information to the public, supporting advance evacuation in areas where danger is expected, and providing thorough disaster response mainly with the police, fire departments and the Self-Defense Forces,” he said at the meeting. The Japan Times.

Tropical depression Xiangshan made landfall as a typhoon on Thursday and is continuing to move northward across Japan.

The weather phenomenon first hit southwestern Kyushu on Thursday and officials said it may be the strongest storm ever to hit the region.

Disaster Management Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said 30,000 people had been evacuated as of Thursday, mainly in Kyushu.

The typhoon moved slowly across southern Honshu on Thursday and Friday, reaching the northern tip of Shikoku, east of Kyushu, on Friday night local time.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Xiang Xiang is moving east with wind speeds of 72 kilometers per hour toward Shikoku and Honshu, but its forward speed is only 10 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon is expected to reach Tokyo by the weekend, and although it is still quite far from the capital, it has brought heavy rain to the surrounding area, flooding roads and riverside areas in the south, causing widespread damage.

Flooding was reported in many parts of Kanagawa prefecture west of Tokyo, and warnings were issued for heavy rain and the risk of landslides in the densely populated capital, Kanagawa and neighboring Shizuoka prefectures.

Typhoon Shanshan was moving slowly northeast of Japan on Saturday, heading toward Tokyo.

The storm caused landslides, killed three people, flooded underpasses and halted train services.

Meteorological authorities warned that heavy rain was expected in major cities such as Osaka and Tokyo, according to the Associated Press.

Typhoon Shanshan is expected to hit parts of Japan from Sunday to Monday with strong winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, but its exact path is still unknown.

Typhoon Shanshan was likely intensified by climate change, a study from Imperial College London has found.

The researchers found that a warmer climate has increased Xiang Xiang’s maximum wind speeds by 7.5 percent.

The typhoon that made landfall in Kyushu was one of the strongest to hit Japan in recent years.

The study warns that such powerful storms will become more frequent in the future, potentially reaching nearly six times a decade.

The impact of Xiang Xiang is not only being felt by major companies such as Toyota and Nissan, which have been forced to suspend operations in Kyushu, but also by ordinary Japanese citizens.

Most of the major storms in recent years have been found to be exacerbated by rising temperatures: Heat in the oceans is known to intensify tropical storms such as typhoons and hurricanes, and ocean temperatures in recent years have been the warmest on record.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to stay at home and remain vigilant as tropical storm Shanshan continues to impact the capital.

“Heavy rain has been recorded in Tokyo since yesterday and flood and landslide warnings have been issued,” Koike said on Friday, according to the Japan Times.

She said Tokyo residents should prioritize safety by making use of hazard maps and disaster prevention tools provided by the city and by staying indoors as much as possible.

“Please refrain from going out and protect your life and the lives of your loved ones.”

Light flooding was reported in at least 10 buildings, with similar damage occurring in the Tama area.

Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in Kagoshima prefecture in southwestern Japan, causing extensive damage to homes and buildings.

A powerful storm struck the city of Satsumasendai early Thursday morning, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain that caused devastating damage to the area.

According to the Japan Times, more than 160 buildings were damaged in Miyazaki city, including 69 homes and 35 commercial buildings.

Residents in the Shirakase district of Miyazaki City reported that sudden, strong winds shattered windows and caused injuries.

At least six people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured so far.

However, more than 250,000 households in seven prefectures remain without power.

The typhoon’s winds are so strong that they could cause structural damage to homes.

As the typhoon approached the southern Kyushu coast in the early hours of Thursday, storm chaser James Reynolds said there was a “total whiteout at times” in Makurazaki as the eye of the storm brought fierce winds, heavy rain and occasional thunder. Leaving the port “The Stirring Cauldron.”

In a further post on X on Thursday morning local time, Reynolds described widespread power outages and road closures, and shared footage of uprooted trees and water gushing from rivers.

Fellow storm chaser Jonathan Petramala also shared footage of swirling rain clouds over Makurazaka, writing, “These vortices on the inner wall of the eye remind me of Dementors from Harry Potter.”

After returning to the hotel, Petramala Written“The eye wall is still creaking above us… the whole building is shaking.”

A powerful tropical storm hit Japan, causing many companies to suspend operations.

Toyota, which is based in Aichi Prefecture, said it had suspended operations at all 14 of its domestic factories starting Wednesday evening.

Nissan said it would suspend operations at its Kyushu plant on Thursday and Friday morning, while Honda also said it would temporarily close its Kumamoto plant in southwest Kyushu.

Mazda also said it plans to suspend operations at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants in western Japan from Thursday evening.