Japan Typhoon Shanshan live: Evacuation alerts issued for parts of Tokyo as rivers swell

Evacuation orders have been issued in several areas of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture due to the risk of landslides. In Tokyo, these orders affect multiple cities in the western part of the region, including all of Hachioji, Tama, and Machida, as well as parts of Chofu, Fuchu, Nishitokyo, and Mitaka. Central areas like Setagaya and Suginami wards are also impacted. Over 146,000 people in Tama and over 102,000 people in Machida are affected. Kanagawa has issued evacuation orders in more than 30 cities and towns, including parts of Yokohama and Atsugi. Evacuation orders are also in place across various cities and towns in all prefectures of the Kyushu region, as well as in Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi in Shikoku. Additionally, parts of Aichi and Shizuoka remain under evacuation orders.

Multiple rivers have swelled after incessant rainfall in the last two days, reaching dangerous levels and prompting flooding concerns.

Early on Friday a level 4 flood danger alert – the second highest on a five-tier scale – was issued for Tokyo’s Meguro River.

More alerts have also been issued for multiple wards near the Meguro, Nogawa and Sengawa rivers, including Meguro, Shinagawa, Setagaya, Mitaka City, Fuchu City, Chofu City, Koganei City, and Komae City.

Hundreds of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities and islands were cancelled on Thursday, and bullet trains and some local train services were suspended.

In the Tokyo region, Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Tokyo and Osaka were suspended starting Thursday evening due to heavy rain in the central region. Bullet train service also was to be suspended in parts of the western and central regions on Friday.

As the storm headed northeast, similar steps were taken in parts of the main island of Honshu that were experiencing heavy rain. Postal and delivery services were suspended in the Kyushu region, and supermarkets and other stores planned to close.

Here is the most recent satellite view of the severe tropical storm as it passes over Japan, via Colorado State University’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Numerous companies have halted operations at their factories as the severe tropical storm hits Japan.

Toyota, which is headquartered in Aichi Prefecture, suspended operations at all 14 of its plants in Japan from Wednesday evening, it said.

Nissan said it would suspend operations at its Kyushu plant on Thursday and Friday morning, while Honda will also temporarily close its factory in Kumamoto in southwestern Kyushu.

Also, Mazda Motor planned to suspend operations at its Hiroshima and Hofu plants, both in western Japan, from Thursday evening, the firm said.

As the typhoon approached the southern coast of Kyushu in the small hours of Thursday, storm chaser James Reynolds described a “complete whiteout at times” in Makurazaki, as the eyewall of the typhoon brought fierce winds, sheets of rain and infrequent lightning, leaving its harbour a “churning cauldron”.

In further X posts on Thursday morning local time, Mr Reynolds described widespread power outages and blocked roads as he shared footage of trees uprooted and rivers gushing with rainwater.

Fellow storm chaser Jonathan Petramala, also shared footage of the swirling blankets of rain in Makurazaka, writing: “This vortex in the inner eye wall … reminds me of the Dementors in HarryPotter”.

After returning to his hotel, Mr Petramala wrote: “The eye wall is still grinding over us … The whole building is shaking.”

In case you missed it yesterday as Shanshan made landfall, thousands of people across Japan were watching a livestream of a famous palm tree in Kagoshima, nicknamed “Yasshi”, as it was buffeted by the storm.

“Yasshi is located next to a resort hotel and became famous for surviving major typhoons,” Dr Jeffrey J Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies, said on X, adding: “Hang in there, Yasshi! You can survive this!”

While the livestream has currently lost its connection, thousands still appeared to be watching it in the hopes of monitoring the palm tree’s fate. By Thursday morning, the tree still appeared to be standing strong.

The hotel previously made a towel commemorating Yasshi’s survival over typhoons in the past two years, according to Dr Hall.

Flood danger levels have been breached in multiple rivers across Tokyo, national broadcaster NHK reports, citing Japan’s Meteorological Agency.

Alerts have been issued for multiple wards near the Meguro, Nogawa and Sengawa rivers, including Meguro, Shinagawa, Setagaya, Mitaka City, Fuchu City, Chofu City, Koganei City, and Komae City.

High waves were pictured hitting Haeundae Beach in South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan, as Typhoon Shanshan passes through the region to the southeast.