Typhoon causes transport cancellations in Japan

Typhoon Shanshan struck Japan’s southwestern main island of Kyushu on Thursday morning, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency issued a rare special typhoon warning for most parts of Kagoshima Prefecture, leading to widespread cancellations of trains and flights by public transport operators. These special warnings are reserved for particularly severe storm systems.

JR Kyushu announced that all high-speed and other train services on the island would be suspended by Thursday afternoon. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways also canceled numerous flights to and from airports in the affected area.

JR West added that some bullet trains between Hakata in northern Kyushu and Hiroshima in western Japan would also be canceled Thursday evening.

As of 5 am Thursday, the typhoon was advancing northward at 15 kilometers per hour and was situated approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Satsumasendai, a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, with maximum winds reaching 252 kilometers per hour. The storm’s central atmospheric pressure was recorded at 935 hectopascals, Kyodo News reported.

Residents in these areas have been urged to prepare for strong winds, high tides and waves, with the weather agency advising people to be prepared for evacuation before conditions deteriorate further. The forecast predicts up to 600 millimeters of rain in parts of Kyushu over a 24-hour period.