Farmlands alongside a river are flooded by heavy rains introduced by a hurricane in Yufu, Oita prefecture, western Japan, on August 29, 2024. | Picture credit score: AP
A hurricane lashed southern Japan with torrential rains and powerful winds on Thursday (Aug 29, 2024), inflicting not less than three deaths because it moved throughout the archipelago and elevating issues of flooding, landslides and main harm.
“Storm Shanshan made landfall on the southern island of Kyushu within the morning, and a few 60 centimetres of rain fell in components of Miyazaki Prefecture,” the Japan Meteorological Company stated. “The 24-hour whole was above common for August rainfall, and swollen rivers threatened to trigger flooding.”
The hurricane slammed into the middle of Miyazaki metropolis, toppling timber, throwing autos into parking heaps and shattering home windows in some buildings. The prefecture’s catastrophe administration process drive stated 40 buildings have been broken.
Photographs in NHK Public tv confirmed the river swollen within the standard sizzling spring city of Yufu in Oita prefecture, simply north of Miyazaki, with muddy water splashing towards the bridge that spans it.
“The hurricane is forecast to convey robust winds, excessive waves and vital rainfall to many of the nation, notably southern Kyushu prefectures. Round noon, Shanshan was transferring north at 15 km/h (9 mph) and its winds had weakened to 126 km/h (78 mph),” JMA stated.
“Greater than a dozen individuals have been injured in Miyazaki, lots of them thrown to the bottom. One particular person was additionally injured in close by Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures whereas heading to shelters,” the Hearth and Catastrophe Administration Company stated.
“Almost 1 / 4 of one million households have been left with out energy in Kyushu, most of them in Kagoshima Prefecture,” Kyushu Electrical Energy Co. stated.
Earlier than the hurricane hit, heavy rains triggered a landslide that buried a home within the central metropolis of Gamagori, killing three residents and injuring two others, in response to town’s catastrophe administration division. “On the southern island of Amami, the place the hurricane handed, one particular person was injured when he was knocked over by a gust of wind whereas using a bike,” the FDMA stated.
Authorities and climate officers are involved in regards to the intensive harm the hurricane may trigger because it strikes slowly throughout the Japanese archipelago within the coming days, threatening flooding and landslides. The hurricane’s impression has but to be felt within the Tokyo area, the place exercise was regular and heavy rains have been forecast for later this week.
Catastrophe Administration Minister Yoshifumi Matsumura stated the hurricane may trigger “unprecedented” ranges of violent winds, excessive waves, storm surges and heavy rain. At a process drive assembly on Wednesday (Aug 28, 2024), he urged individuals, particularly the aged, to not hesitate and to take shelter each time there’s any security concern.
A whole bunch of home flights connecting southwestern cities and islands have been canceled on Thursday, and bullet trains and a few native prepare companies have been suspended. Comparable measures have been taken on Thursday in components of the principle island of Honshu the place heavy rain was falling. Postal and supply companies have been additionally suspended within the Kyushu area, and supermarkets and different outlets are anticipated to shut.
