By Ezekiel David
Millions of people were forced to flee their homes Thursday due to Typhoon Shanshan’s strong winds and heavy rainfall in southwest Japan. The storm forced major factories to halt operations, interrupted air traffic, and caused severe power outages.
Authorities warned that Shanshan could be one of the strongest typhoons to hit the region, and tragically, at least three people have been killed and numerous others injured.
Major automakers like Toyota stopped operating in all of their domestic plants, while chip giants Tokyo Electron and Renesas as well as Nissan and Honda also momentarily stopped producing at some of their plants.
“I’ve never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life,” said Miyazaki City funeral parlour worker Tomoki Maeda, recalling the scary experience of riding in a hearse during the typhoon.
As of Thursday afternoon, over 230,000 households across seven prefectures were without energy, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co. Fortunately, there was no damage sustained by the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Satsumasendai City, where the typhoon made landfall.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the storm was to responsible for three fatalities and one person reported missing, while the disaster management agency reported 45 injuries.
Nationwide, notifications to evacuate were sent to more than 5.2 million individuals. Hitoyoshi City hotel owner Madoka Kubo revealed that all reservations had been cancelled and that her establishment was being used as a shelter for elderly inhabitants who had been evacuated.
Nearly 800 flights were cancelled by airlines, including Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings, while train service was halted in various parts of Kyushu. Additionally, hundreds of ferry and bus services were suspended.
Typhoon Shanshan follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ampil, which also caused disruptions and evacuations earlier this month.
(Source: Reuters)