A slow-moving tropical storm caused widespread flooding and disruption in Japan on Friday. The heavy rain affected areas around Tokyo, with roads and riverside locations in the south being particularly affected. Kanagawa Prefecture, located west of Tokyo, experienced flooding that blocked roads and caused traffic congestion. The capital city, as well as Kanagawa and Shizuoka Prefectures, were issued warnings for heavy rain and potential landslides.
NHK television footage showed the Meguro River in Tokyo overflowing with muddy water, far exceeding its normal levels. In Hiratsuka, a parking lot was submerged in water up to the windows of parked cars. Pedestrians waded through thigh-high floodwater in some areas. In Ninomiya, vehicles were stranded on a street due to floodwater from a river.
Tropical Storm Shanshan made landfall on Kyushu Island as a powerful typhoon on Thursday morning before weakening but remaining stationary off the northeastern coast of Kyushu by Friday morning. This slow movement has increased the amount and duration of rainfall, raising concerns about potential disasters.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Shanshan was heading east towards the main islands of Shikoku and Honshu with winds reaching 72 kph but moving at just 10 kph.
The forecast predicted up to 30 centimeters of rainfall for Shikoku and central Japan within the next 24 hours until Saturday noon. Tokyo and nearby prefectures could expect up to 15 centimeters during this period.
The storm has severely impacted transportation services across southwestern Japan. Around 110 people have been injured in Kyushu region alone, mainly in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures where they have been hit hardest by the storm’s effects. Two individuals are currently missing while three people lost their lives due to a landslide triggered by the typhoon before it made landfall.
Numerous domestic flights connecting southwestern cities were canceled while bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended on Friday. Postal services along with delivery services faced significant disruptions throughout Kyushu and Shikoku regions while supermarkets closed their doors temporarily alongside other businesses including automakers such as Toyota Motor Corp and Mazda Motor Corp who halted production at their factories until conditions improved.
Please note: This article is based on information from The Associated Press (2024).