Japan has issued an emergency alert as Typhoon Shanshan approaches the southwest of the country, leading to significant disruptions including factory closures and flight cancellations.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that Typhoon Shanshan was approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Yakushima Island.
The storm is moving northward toward the Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures on Kyushu Island.
JMA forecasts that Shanshan will reach southern Kyushu with “extremely strong force” by Thursday, bringing with it powerful winds and high waves.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi warned that the typhoon is expected to produce gusts reaching up to 250 km/h (155 mph), which would be among the strongest seen in recent times.
The JMA anticipates that Shanshan will continue its path across Kyushu and then move towards central and eastern regions, potentially impacting Tokyo over the weekend.
In response to the storm, evacuation orders have been issued for over 800,000 residents in Kagoshima and the Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures.
Toyota has announced that all 14 of its factories in Japan will be closed from Wednesday evening until Thursday morning.
Airlines have also been significantly affected, with Japan Airlines canceling 172 domestic and six international flights for Wednesday and Thursday.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has canceled 219 domestic and four international flights scheduled for Wednesday through Friday.
These cancellations are expected to impact around 25,000 passengers.
Additionally, Kyushu Railway has suspended some Shinkansen bullet train services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima Chuo starting Wednesday night, with potential for further disruptions.
