Japan faced the wrath of Typhoon Shanshan, the strongest typhoon of the year, with wind gusts reaching up to 252 kilometers per hour. The typhoon hit the main southern island of Kyushu, home to 12.5 million people, prompting authorities to issue evacuation warnings and the highest alert level due to the imminent threat of life-threatening conditions.
As Typhoon Shanshan wreaked havoc across Kyushu, the coastal city of Miyazaki reported 26 injuries and 124 incidents of building damage.
The injuries were primarily caused by powerful winds shattering windows, although none were life-threatening. Social media footage depicted scenes of chaos, with rivers turning into torrents and trees perilously hanging over rain-soaked roads.
Amidst the chaos, residents like Aoi Nishimoto and Rio Ohtsuru shared their experiences of the typhoon’s impact.
Nishimoto expressed concern over a tornado in Miyazaki, while Ohtsuru, away from her parents’ home for the first time, prepared for potential power outages.
With hundreds of thousands without power and the slow-moving system indicating further rain, residents braced themselves for the impending challenges.
Economic disruptions and precautionary measures
The typhoon’s impact extended beyond human lives, affecting major industries in Japan. Auto manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda halted production, while airlines canceled thousands of flights, disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands.
The aftermath of Typhoon Shanshan highlighted the vulnerability of Japan’s infrastructure to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
The successive typhoons in Japan, including Shanshan, Ampil, and Maria, underscored the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms in the region.
A study released recently linked these trends to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies in the face of escalating natural disasters.
Check also;
- Japan Earthquake: Death Toll Reaches 13 As All Tsunami Warnings Lifted
- Morocco Hit By Devastating Earthquake, Over 600 Reported Death
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