- Live Reporting (active)
Summary
Japan has been hit by one of its strongest typhoons in decades
Torrential rain and gusts of 252 km per hour (157mph) hit the south of the country, although the typhoon has now weakened to a "severe tropical storm"
At least four people have been killed with more than 80 injured
"I just wanted to survive," says one woman caught in the storm, while another person calls it "out of this world"
More than five million people in the south of the country have been told to evacuate
At least 237,000 homes are without power and more than 700 flights are cancelled
Live Reporting
Edited by Emily McGarvey
Millions told to evacuate in Japan - here's what to knowpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 29 August
15:23 BST 29 August
Image source, ReutersIt's close to 23:30 local time in Japan (13:30 FMT), and we're ending our live coverage shortly. Here’s what you need to know from today:
What Happened: Typhoon Shanshan, now downgraded to a “severe tropical storm,” is still causing havoc with rain and gusts hitting southern Japan.
Human Impact: Shanshan has triggered landslides and roof collapses, resulting in at least four deaths. At least 94 people are injured, and one person is still missing. A body was found in the sea, but it’s unclear if it’s the missing person. Hundreds of thousands of homes are without power.
Economic Impact: Trains suspended, highways closed, and over 700 flights cancelled. Companies like Toyota have halted production across Japan.
What Will Happen: Shanshan is moving slowly, which means more heavy rain is on the way. Some areas could see over 700mm of rain. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is warning both western and eastern Japan to brace for more landslides and flooding.
- You can read more updates on this story, here
What is a typhoon?published at 15:15 British Summer Time 29 August
15:15 BST 29 August
Ben Rich
BBC WeatherTyphoons are common in Japan, with the season peaking during August and September.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 25 cyclones of tropical storm strength or higher are recorded in the north-west Pacific in a typical year, of which an average of three will make landfall in Japan.
Some of these will be strong enough to be classified as typhoons – as was the case with Shanshan.
A typhoon is a deep area of low pressure that forms from an organised cluster of thunderstorms over warm tropical waters.
Fed by the warmth of the ocean, with sea surface temperatures above 27C (81F), these weather systems can strengthen rapidly to bring powerful winds, dangerous seas and flooding rain.
Typhoons are the same as hurricanes - the only difference is where they form. Hurricane is the term used for storms that form in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific, whereas typhoon is used in the north-west Pacific.
Travellers concerned about heavy rain affecting planspublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 29 August
15:05 BST 29 August
Image source, ReutersTravellers on the ground in Japan say rainfall is now a concern after severe tropical storm Shanshan caused major travel disruption.
Norimasa Sakanosh*ta, 47, who travelled from Tokyo to attend a meeting in f*ckuoka, says: "This typhoon is scary. In terms of disaster, we are getting a large amount of rain so I don’t know what will happen going forward," he tells Reuters news agency.
A tourist from New York, Leila Wong, who's travelling across Japan with her family, says she was stranded in f*ckuoka after trains to Tokyo were cancelled due to heavy rain and winds.
"I'm concerned because I obviously do not want to miss our flights back to New York on September 2nd," she says.
"If the power failures continue to go on for the next couple of days, then... we'll be stuck here a little bit longer."
Read our BBC Future Earth newsletterpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 29 August
14:40 BST 29 August
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How is climate change affecting typhoons?published at 14:28 British Summer Time 29 August
14:28 BST 29 August
Mark Poynting
Climate reporterImage source, ReutersTyphoons - also called hurricanes or tropical cyclones in other parts of the world - are powerful storms that develop in warm tropical ocean waters.
The causes of these storms are complex, making it difficult to say exactly how much of a role climate change has played in the intensity of Typhoon Shanshan.
But rising temperatures can affect these storms in several ways.
Firstly, warmer ocean waters mean storms can pick up more energy, leading to higher wind speeds.
Secondly, a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall.
Thirdly, rising average sea-levels - mainly due to melting land ice and warmer ocean water taking up more space - means that there is a greater risk of coastal flooding from storm surges.
In future, while the number of typhoons may decrease overall across East and South East Asia, these storms are expected to generally become even more intense when they do occur, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- Read more about how climate change is affecting hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones here
WATCH: Typhoon Shanshan weakens but expect huge rainfallpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 29 August
14:17 BST 29 August
Typhoon Shanshan has weakened to a severe tropical storm but the risk of flooding remains. The BBC's Ben Rich has the latest forecast details.
Storm grinds road, rail and flights to a haltpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 29 August
14:08 BST 29 August
Image source, Getty ImagesTransit systems have announced cancellations, delays and disruption as severe tropical storm Shanshan makes it way through Japan.
Shinkansen bullet trains have been suspended in parts of Kyushu for all of today and tomorrow.
Rail operators say that services could be impacted all weekend as storm conditions persist.
Japan Airlines says 271 flights were cancelled today, affecting 14,700 passengers, and another 280 flights scheduled for tomorrow have been halted.
All Nippon Airways suspended 223 flights, affecting 20,400 passengers, with another 379 cancellations expected over the next two days.
Most of the cancelled services cover the Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
Highway operations have also asked motorists to check the latest road information and consider altering their plans as traffic restrictions are imposed across large parts of Japan.
The Minamikyushu Expressway has been closed due to heavy rain and strong winds, and scores of other major motorways have been partially shut.
Man, 80, dies after roof collapsespublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 29 August
13:45 BST 29 August
Another person has died during Typhoon Shanshan, raising the death toll to four, local police say.
An 80-year-old man from Tokushima prefecture was trapped after the roof of a house collapsed about 17:30 local time (08:30 GMT) today, according to Japan’s national broadcaster NHK.
The fire brigade rescued the man around 50 minutes after the incident but he later died in hospital.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recorded 110mm of rainfall in the area around the time of the incident.
Japanese manufacturing giants halt operationspublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 29 August
13:31 BST 29 August
Image source, PA MediaCar maker Toyota has suspended production at all 14 of its factories across Japan as Typhoon Shanshan, which has been downgraded to a severe tropical storm, makes its way towards the country's main island, Honshu.
Nissan and Honda have halted operations at their plants in Kyushu, the southern island hardest hit by the storm.
Semiconductor firms Renesas, Tokyo Electron and Rohm have also paused work at some factories in the path of the storm.
Submerged buses and battered umbrellas: Latest pictures of Typhoon Shanshanpublished at 13:22 British Summer Time 29 August
13:22 BST 29 August
Image source, GettImage source, Getty ImagesImage source, ReutersBody found in sea near Kagoshimapublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 29 August
13:10 BST 29 August
The Japan Coast Guard says a body was found in the sea near Kagoshima at about 13:30 local time (04:30 GMT) today, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The identity of the person has yet to be confirmed. Earlier authorities said one person was missing at sea - it's not known if it's the same person.
What's the latest?published at 12:48 British Summer Time 29 August
12:48 BST 29 August
Image source, ReuterTyphoon Shanshan made landfall in Japan at 08:00 local time today (23:00 GMT) and has left at least three people dead since developing off the coast earlier this week.
What's the human impact?
Three people have been confirmed dead after their home was damaged late on Tuesday. At least 84 have been injured, according to Japan's national broadcaster NHK. More than five million people have been advised to evacuate - it's not known how many have done so.
Has infrastructure been affected?
More than 700 flights have been cancelled, and two high speed railways suspended. More than 80 sections of highway were also suspended. Meanwhile, over 230,000 homes were without electricity this morning and 90 without water.
What has it been like for people on the ground?
One woman told a local TV station she didn't think she could live through the strong winds, "I just wanted to survive", she said. A man described a tornado as "out of this world", adding that it was "spooky" to look at.
What can we expect later?
In a news conference this morning, Japan's chief cabinet secretary warned the "slow" moving typhoon could mean large amounts of rainfall. Since then, Japan's weather agency has predicted 1,200mm (43in) rain in southern Kyushu by tomorrow morning. As for the typhoon itself - it's heading northwards.
Typhoon Shanshan will likely trigger significant floodingpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 29 August
12:23 BST 29 August
Ben Rich
BBC WeatherTyphoon Shanshan has been the strongest typhoon in the westernPacific so far this year.
Sustained winds in the centre of the storm were estimated at175km/h (110mph) shortly before landfall in Kagoshima province, according tothe Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
This means Shanshan was categorised as a“very strong typhoon” – the second highest category on the scale.
It has now weakened, and is classed as a severe tropical storm. Butthe danger is far from over.
Shanshan is set to stall across the south of Japan,producing huge amounts of rain.
It is likely that some locations will get700mm (27in), with some computer models hinting at close to 1m (39in) of rain over thenext five days.
Further significant flooding and landslides look inevitable.
At least 84 injured, Japanese media reportpublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 29 August
12:11 BST 29 August
Japan’s national broadcaster is reporting that at least 84 people have been injured since Typhoon Shanshan made landfall.
Most of the injuries have been recorded in Miyazaki prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu, NHK reports. It has been heavily hit by gusts and rainfall in the last 24 hours with at least 35 people injured there.
In Kagoshima, a prefecture that also suffered significant damage, 24 people have injured.
There is still one person missing and three people have been confirmed dead.
Typhoon Shanshan brings parts of Japan to a standstillpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 29 August
11:41 BST 29 August
Image source, EPAWe can bring you more detail of travel disruption after Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi earlier told reporters that over 700 flights have been cancelled.
Airlines, including ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines, have halted hundreds of domestic flights for Thursday and Friday, affecting around 40,000 passengers.
Rail operators have suspended Shinkansen bullet trains in many areas of Kyushu, while hundreds of bus and ferry services have also beenhalted, according to the transport ministry.
Image source, EPAImage source, epaPredicted path of Typhoon Shanshan: Where is it going next?published at 11:23 British Summer Time 29 August
11:23 BST 29 August
Typhoon Shanshan made landfall at 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's major islands.
Here's where the storm has made an impact so far and where it's expected to go next:
- Before making landfall, the typhoon was packing gusts of up to 252km/h (157mph)
- When it hit the city of Kagoshima, top speeds eased to 198km/h (123mph)
- A few hours later, the city of Unzen - near Nagasaki - recorded gusts of 50 metres per second (164ft per second)
- Heavy winds, rains and destruction have now been reported in cities across Kyushu, from Miyazaki in the south to f*ckuoka and Usa in the north of the island
- Japan's weather agency has predicted 1,100mm (43in) of rain in southern Kyushu by tomorrow morning
- The typhoon is moving north at about 15km/h (9mph), heading towards the main island of Honshu
Millions of evacuation orders issued across Japanpublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 29 August
11:14 BST 29 August
More than 5.2 million people in Japan have been ordered to evacuate from their homes, Japanese authorities say.
Most of the orders are in place for the southern Kyushu island, but some are also in place for central Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says that for level 4 emergency warnings - highlighted in the purple sections in the below map - all residents are advised to "evacuate from affected areas".
The maximum emergency warning is a level 5, which are rarely issued and would indicate a life-threatening situation.
Image source, Japan Meteorological Agency'Slow' moving typhoon leaves thousands in the dark, Japanese official sayspublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 29 August
11:04 BST 29 August
Image source, ReutersWe can now bring you some updates from a press conference that recently wrapped up, where government officials told reporters that the typhoon is slowly making its way across the country.
As of 09:00 local time, Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary, confirmed that three people have died and one person remains missing.
Two people have been severely injuredand another five more are suffering mildinjuries, Hayashi adds.
Meanwhile, 87 sections of the highway have beensuspended and 703 flights are cancelled.
Two high-speed rail lines - Kyushu Shinkansen and Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen - have been suspended.
There are 237,000 homes now without electricity - mainly in the Kyushu area - and 90 housing unitshave no water.
He describes the movement of the typhoon as"slow", warning it may lead to a large amount of rainfall. Predictions can't yet be made about the economic and socialimpact, Hayashi adds.
'I just wanted to survive'published at 10:53 British Summer Time 29 August
10:53 BST 29 August
Chika Nakayama
Reporting from TokyoImage source, ReutersTyphoon Shanshan made landfall on the southern island of Kyushu in thelast 24 hours, and residents have begun sharing what it was likefor gusts of 252 km/h (157mph) to rip across the land.
Quote Message
The wind was so strong, I didn’t think I can live through it. I just wanted to survive. [I] never experienced anything like it."
These were the words of one woman in Makurazaki - a city in Kagoshima prefecture, on the island - who was speaking on local TV this morning.
Elsewhere, I saw footage of a teacher running back inside a nursery after he spotted what appeared to be a tornado heading his way in Miyazaki.
"It was out of the world," another man who saw the tornado said. "It was so spooky to look at."
Watch: Buildings damaged and cars blown over in Miyazakipublished at 10:47 British Summer Time 29 August
10:47 BST 29 August
Miyazaki - one of the Japanese prefectures that Typhoon Shanshan tore through in the last 24 hours - has had cars overturned, buildings damaged and trees uprooted.
About 600mm (nearly two feet) of rain fell in parts of Miyazaki, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. That's more in one day than the entire average rainfall for all of August, it said.
