Tropical Storm Shanshan moved slowly northeast through Japan toward the capital on Saturday, triggering a mudslide that resulted in three fatalities, disrupted train services, and flooded underground passages. Meteorological officials cautioned about heavy rainfall comparable to a waterfall in major cities such as Osaka and Tokyo. The storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour, crept over the islands of Shikoku and Honshu at a speed of 10 kph (6 mph). It was projected to impact different regions of Japan through Sunday and Monday, although its precise path remained uncertain, as informed by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
According to public broadcaster NHK, at least six deaths were linked to the storm, including individuals swept away by rivers, crushed beneath fallen roofs, or struck by strong winds in southwestern Japan. Additionally, a man who went missing after going out on a boat, and 125 other individuals were reported injured as per NHK’s compilation of information from local authorities. Extensive damage from the heavy rainfall was observed over a broad area, extending more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the storm’s center. Footage displayed flooded rivers and submerged cars in muddied waters in Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, even as the storm technically remained positioned in southwestern Kyushu.
The meteorological agency issued warnings for heavy rainfall and mudslides in Aomori in northeastern Japan for Saturday evening, while the local government of Suginami ward in Tokyo cautioned residents in high-risk zones to prepare for potential evacuations due to mudslides. Numerous flights were canceled with airlines arranging alternate options for stranded passengers. In southwestern Japan, infrastructure damage included a collapsed bridge and debris like mud and branches strewn across roads. Initially classified as a typhoon, the storm made landfall on Thursday and has since diminished in intensity. However, its slow pace has prolonged periods of intense rainfall covering a relatively large area.
