Latest News

Millions left as tropical storm knocks Japan's Kyushu, halting flights and factories

Countless individuals were told to evacuate from their homes as Tropical cyclone Shanshan lashed southwest Japan with strong winds and heavy rain on Thursday, knocking out power, snarling air traffic and forcing significant factories to close. At least 3 individuals have been killed so far and ratings hurt in what authorities have actually warned could be among the strongest ever storms to hit the region. Significant automaker Toyota suspended operations in all of its domestic plants due to the storm, while Nissan, Honda and chipmakers Renesas and Tokyo Electron likewise briefly halted production at some factories. Funeral parlour employee Tomoki Maeda was in a hearse when the tropical storm struck in Miyazaki city in southern Kyushu, shattering windows and tearing down walls of some structures.

I've never experienced such a strong wind or tornado in my 31 years of life, Maeda told Reuters.

The tropical storm, with gusts of as much as 50 metres per second (180. km per hour/112 miles per hour), was near Unzen city in Nagasaki Prefecture. at 1:45 p.m. (0445 GMT), moving north at about 15 km per hour,. according to the weather condition agency.

Around 230,000 households in 7 prefectures lacked. power in the afternoon, according to Kyushu Electric Power Co . The utility previously said there as no effect at its Sendai. Nuclear Power Plant in Satsumasendai city, where the storm made. landfall earlier on Thursday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi informed a news. conference that 3 individuals had actually died and one was missing out on in. events connected to the hurricane, while the catastrophe management. company stated 45 had actually suffered injuries.

After hovering over Kyushu for the next couple of days, the storm. is expected to approach the central and eastern areas,. consisting of the capital Tokyo, around the weekend, the weather. firm said. More than 5.2 million people have been released evacuation notifications. throughout the country, authorities said.

Madoka Kubo, who runs a hotel in historical city of Hitoyoshi. in Kumamoto prefecture, informed Reuters that all appointments had. been cancelled and her hotel was now being utilized to house elderly. people who had been left from nearby areas. Airline companies, consisting of ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines. , have actually currently revealed cancellations of nearly 800. flights. Train services have been suspended in many areas of. Kyushu while numerous bus and ferryboat services have actually likewise been. halted, according to the transportation ministry.

Typhoon Shanshan is the latest harsh weather system to strike. Japan, following Hurricane Ampil, which also caused blackouts and. evacuations, earlier this month.

(source: Reuters)