A colossal storm has battered Japan's main island of Kyushu in the southwest, leading to torrential rainfall and incredibly strong winds. As reported by Japanese broadcaster NHK, around 54 individuals have suffered injuries.
A man in his 60s fell off a small boat into the ocean due to rough waves nearby Kagoshima prefecture's shore and was initially reported missing. The country's meteorological agency warned residents of the area about the dangers posed by the tropical storm.
Over 250,000 families were left without power, according to NHK. In the city of Nagasaki, around 400,000 people were advised to evacuate. Train services were disrupted, and numerous journeys were cancelled.
Toyota, the automobile manufacturer, halted operations at all 28 production lines in its 14 home plants until Friday, citing worker safety and potential parts shortages due to the storm.
Typhoon Shanshan, the tenth of the season, is moving northward and is projected to cross the entire archipelago in the coming days, according to NHK.
The typhoon made landfall near Satsumasendai in Kagoshima prefecture early in the day, advancing north at 15 kilometers per hour with wind speeds reaching up to 216 kilometers per hour, as reported by the organization.
The typhoon caused substantial damage to the coastal areas, with powerful waves capsizing several boats. Due to the fierce winds, numerous buildings in Kagoshima prefecture were significantly damaged.
Despite the storm, emergency services are working tirelessly to locate the missing man and provide aid to those affected by the hurricane.
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Additional Insights
Typhoon Shanshan, which impacted Japan in August 2024, had significant effects on the country, particularly in terms of damage, evacuations, and displacement. Here are the latest updates:
Damage and Evacuations
- Fatalities and Injuries: At least six people were killed, and more than 100 were injured as Typhoon Shanshan swept eastward through Japan, saturating large areas with heavy rain and triggering landslide and flood warnings[5].
- Evacuations: Over 100,000 people were evacuated due to heavy rain and deadly floods, with the government issuing its highest-level rainstorm warning for the affected area[5].
- Property Damage: In Miyazaki Prefecture, several cities and towns were hit by tornadoes associated with cumulonimbus clouds. The area experienced strong wind gusts, including 5 JEF2 (approximately 60-65 m/s) tornadoes. Human and housing damage were reported, with 23 houses partially destroyed and 1149 houses slightly damaged. Injuries included 39 people, with one seriously injured[1].
Displacement
- Displacement: The severe weather conditions caused significant displacement, particularly in Miyazaki Prefecture. The exact number of displaced individuals is not specified, but the extensive damage and evacuations indicate a substantial impact on local populations[1][5].
Weather Simulation and Prediction
- Tornado Forecasting: Fujitsu and Yokohama National University achieved the world's first real-time prediction of tornadoes associated with typhoons using the supercomputer Fugaku. This breakthrough was demonstrated through the simulation of Typhoon Shanshan, which spawned many tornadoes that were difficult to predict due to being hidden behind rain clouds outside the typhoon[1][4].
Future Directions
- Research and Development: The success of this simulation highlights the importance of advanced weather forecasting. Future research aims to improve the accuracy of tornado predictions and expand the application to other types of weather disasters, using AI technology to enhance simulation speed and accuracy[1][3].
In summary, Typhoon Shanshan caused significant damage, evacuations, and displacement in Japan, particularly in Miyazaki Prefecture. The event also sparked significant advancements in weather simulation and tornado forecasting, utilizing the Fugaku supercomputer.
