Japan Typhoon Shanshan live: Parts of Tokyo ordered to evacuate as storm set to bring heavy rain for days

Prime minister Fumio Kishida called for urgent action from ministers while prioritising public safety.

“Please continue to put people’s safety first and cooperate closely with local authorities to take all possible measures to keep the public informed, support evacuation in advance in areas where danger is anticipated, and maintain a well-prepared disaster response centred on the police, fire department, and Self-Defense Forces,” he said at a meeting, according to the Japan Times.

Footage has shown a plane plane tilting from side to side before being forced to abort its landing in Fukuoka, Japan.

The video shows Flight 1408 from South Korea battling the strong winds of from Typhoon Shanshan. It is believed to have landed safely on another runway later.

All train services between Nagoya and Mishima stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen, linking Tokyo and Osaka, have been suspended for both Saturday and Sunday following heavy rains due to Typhoon Shanshan.

Operator JR Central also suspended trains between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara on Saturday morning, adding that the bullet train could be suspended at other stations also depending on the rain.

Most major air carriers, including All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, cancelled dozens of flights.

Sections of the expressways across the country are also shut. Highway operators have urged motorists to keep checking the latest road information, since traffic restrictions could be imposed for long periods.

Shanshan, now a tropical storm, is continuing its northward march across Japan having made landfall as a typhoon on Thursday.

The weather system first hit the southwestern region of the country Kyushu on Thursday in what authorities said could be the strongest storm to have ever hit the area.

As of Thursday, 30,000 had been evacuated, mainly in Kyushu, disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said.

It moved slowly through the southern main island on Thursday and Friday, making its way to the northern edge of the Shikoku island, east of Kyushu, on Friday night local time.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said Shanshan was heading east toward the Shikoku and Honshu main islands with 72 kph (44 mph) winds but a forward speed of just 10 kph (6 mph).

It is expected to reach Tokyo by the end of the weekend. Although the storm is still quite far from the city, it has had a far-reaching impact, dumping heavy rain around Tokyo and flooding roads and riverside areas in the south.

Flooding was reported in a number of areas in Kanagawa prefecture, west of Tokyo. Warnings for heavy rain and potential landslides included the densely populated capital, Kanagawa and nearby Shizuoka prefecture.

Typhoon Shanshan slowly made its way northeast through Japan heading towards Tokyo on Saturday.

The storm set off a mudslide that killed three, left underground passages filled with water, and halted trains.

Meteorological officials warned of torrential rains in major cities like Osaka and Tokyo, reported the Associated Press.

Shanshan with winds that blew up to 65 kilometres per hour and is expected to hit parts of Japan through Sunday and Monday, though its exact route is still uncertain.

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

Researchers found that Shanshan’s maximum wind speeds were 7.5 per cent stronger due to a warmer climate.

The typhoon, which made landfall on Kyushu island, is one of the most powerful to hit the country in years.

The study warns that such powerful storms are likely to become more common, potentially occurring nearly six times a decade.

Shanshan’s impact has been felt by ordinary Japanese citizens as well as major companies, including Toyota and Nissan, which were forced to halt operations in Kyushu.

Most major storms in recent years have been found to have made worse due to rising temperatures. Hot water in the ocean is known to intensify tropical storms like typhoons and hurricanes and ocean temperatures have been the highest on record in recent years.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to stay home and remain vigilant as Tropical Storm Shanshan impacts the capital.

“In Tokyo, heavy rain has been recorded since yesterday, and flood and landslide warnings have been issued,” Ms Koike said on Friday, according to The Japan Times.

She said Tokyoites should use hazard maps and disaster prevention tools provided by the Tokyo metropolitan government and to prioritise safety by staying indoors as much as possible.

“Protect your life and the lives of your loved ones by refraining from going out.”

At least 10 buildings have reported light flooding, with similar damage in the Tama district.

Typhoon Shanshan has caused significant damage to homes and properties after making landfall in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima.

The powerful storm hit the city of Satsuma Sendai early Thursday, bringing violent winds and torrential rains that have devastated the region.

In Miyazaki City, over 160 buildings suffered damage, including 69 residential properties and 35 commercial structures, according to Japan Times.

Residents in the Shirokase area of Miyazaki reported sudden, fierce winds that shattered windows and caused injuries.

At least six deaths have been confirmed so far and dozens were hurt.

However, more than 250,000 households across seven prefectures remained without power.

There’s also a risk that typhoon’s winds are strong enough to potentially cause structural damage to some houses.