A tropical storm moved slowly through Japan on Friday, causing heavy rain and flooding in various areas, including Tokyo and Kanagawa prefecture. Roads and riverside areas in the south were particularly affected, with reports of flooding blocking roads and stalling vehicles. Warnings for heavy rain and potential landslides were issued for densely populated areas like Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka prefectures. The Meguro River in Tokyo, known for cherry blossom viewing, saw significant swelling due to muddy water flowing through.
In Hiratsuka town, numerous cars in a parking lot were submerged in water up to their windows, and pedestrians waded through thigh-high floodwaters. In Ninomiya town, floodwater from a river caused vehicles to stall on a street, with broken tree branches tangled on a bridge over the swollen water. Tropical Storm Shanshan made landfall as a powerful typhoon on Kyushu’s southern main island on Thursday, before weakening and remaining near Kyushu’s northeastern coast on Friday.
The slow pace of the storm increased the amount and duration of rainfall, heightening the risks of disaster, according to experts. The storm was forecasted to move east towards the Shikoku and Honshu main islands with winds of 72 kph (44 mph) but a slow forward speed of 10 kph (6 mph). The Japan Meteorological Agency predicted up to 30 centimeters (11 inches) of rainfall in Shikoku and central Japan, as well as up to 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) in Tokyo and nearby prefectures within the next 24 hours.
The storm’s impact led to the disruption of traffic, delivery services, and businesses in southwestern Japan. Around 80 people were injured in the Kyushu region, with the majority in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, where two individuals were reported missing. Prior to making landfall, the typhoon triggered a landslide that resulted in three fatalities. Domestic flights connecting southwestern cities were canceled, Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended between Tokyo and Osaka, and postal and delivery services were largely halted in Kyushu and Shikoku. Automakers like Toyota and Mazda closed their factories in affected regions until Friday.
