TOKYO – Although Typhoon Shanshan has been downgraded to a tropical storm, it continues to disrupt flights and trains across Japan on August 31, with authorities warning of potential landslides due to ongoing heavy rains.
Initially one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Japan in decades, Shanshan made landfall on Kyushu island on August 29, bringing winds of up to 252 km/h. Although the storm’s intensity has since decreased to 90 km/h, it has left a trail of destruction, with at least six people killed and over 120 injured, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
As of August 31, Shanshan was located off the western Wakayama region and moving eastward. Despite its downgraded status, the storm continues to impact transportation. ANA and Japan Airlines canceled approximately 60 domestic flights, affecting nearly 7,200 passengers. Additionally, Shinkansen bullet train services were suspended in the central city of Nagoya.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents to remain vigilant, warning of the risks of landslides, flooding, and overflowing rivers. In central Gifu, a city issued a top-level evacuation warning to 2,000 residents near an overflowing river, while parts of northern Hokkaido experienced heavy rainfall.
The southern Kagoshima region, where Shanshan made landfall, still has more than 32,000 households without power, according to the local power operator.
Scientists have pointed out that climate change is increasing the risk of severe weather events in Japan and globally, as warmer atmospheres can hold more water, leading to more intense rainfall. In recent years, Japan has experienced several devastating weather events, including a 2021 landslide in the resort town of Atami that killed 27 people and the 2018 floods and landslides that claimed over 200 lives during the rainy season.