By Kaori Kaneko
Southwestern Japan is facing one of the strongest storms in history as Typhoon Shanshan approaches. The region is bracing for potential devastation, with residents being ordered to evacuate and major corporations like Toyota closing factories.
Airlines and rail operators have already cancelled services as the typhoon, classified as "very strong", heads towards Kyushu with wind gusts reaching up to 70 meters per second.
The meteorological agency has issued an emergency warning, predicting flooding, landslides, and destructive winds that could potentially destroy homes.
According to Satoshi Sugimoto, the agency's chief forecaster, "Maximum caution is required as we expect unprecedentedly strong winds, high waves, and high tides."
After hitting Kyushu, the storm is projected to move towards central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend.
Evacuation orders have been issued for over 800,000 residents in Kagoshima, Aichi, and Shizuoka prefectures. In Aichi, where Toyota's headquarters are located, two people are missing after a house collapsed in a landslide.
Toyota, Nissan, and Honda have announced temporary closures of their factories in the affected regions, impacting production schedules and supply chains.
This severe weather follows last week's Typhoon Ampil, which caused power outages and forced evacuations.
ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines have cancelled hundreds of domestic flights, affecting thousands of passengers in the region.
The financial impact of Typhoon Shanshan on Japanese businesses and the economy is significant and will likely be felt in the coming weeks. Investors should monitor the situation closely as it could affect stock prices and market performance.
Overall, the aftermath of Typhoon Shanshan will have far-reaching consequences on the Japanese economy, businesses, and the livelihoods of its residents. It serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of our infrastructure and the importance of disaster preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.