A typhoon named ‘Shanshan’ battered southern Japan on Thursday with intense winds and torrential rain, resulting in at least three deaths and raising fears of flooding, landslides and significant damage. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, typhoon Shanshan made landfall early this morning close to Satsumasendai in southern Kyushu, where up to 60 centimetres (23.6 inches) of rain might fall in a single day. It also issued the highest level of warnings, stating that the typhoon would affect most of the country, especially the southern prefectures of Kyushu, with strong winds, high waves and considerable rainfall. It was recommended that residents of the alerted areas seek shelter at community centres and other open spaces. By midmorning, JMA reported that Shanshan was remained near the southern island of Kyushu, travelling north at 15 kph (9 mph) with sustained winds of 144 kph (89 mph) and higher gusts. Weather and government officials are concerned about extensive damage as the typhoon slowly sweeps up the Japanese archipelago over the next few days, threatening floods and landslides. On Thursday, several local train services as well as bullet trains were suspended, and hundreds of domestic flights linking southwestern cities and islands were cancelled. Through Sunday, Honshu, the major island, may undergo similar measures. Supermarkets and other businesses in the Kyushu region planned to close and postal and delivery services have also been suspended. What did the Disaster Management Department say? According to the city's disaster management department, before the typhoon's arrival, intense rains created a landslip in the central city of Gamagori, burying a house and killing three people and injuring two others. One person was thrown from their motorbike by a wind gust on the southern island of Amami, where the typhoon made landfall, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Yoshifumi Matsumura, the minister of disaster management, warned that the typhoon may bring unprecedented levels of storm surges, high waves, fierce winds and heavy rain. He urged everyone to seek shelter as soon as there is a safety issue, especially senior persons, during a task force meeting on Wednesday. (with inputs from AP)
