Flight cancellations and evacuations as Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan

Authorities issued a rare emergency warning in preparation for a powerful typhoon that has hit Japan’s southwest with torrential rain and high-speed winds of up to 250km/h (155mph). The storm has caused widespread travel disruption including train and flight cancellations.

The emergency warnings were issued on Wednesday for storms and high waves in Kagoshima Prefecture, at the southern tip of mainland Japan. Evacuations were ordered for 800,000 residents on the southwesternmost island of Kyushu and the Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures southwest of Tokyo on central Honshu Island.

Japan Airlines has cancelled 172 domestic flights, and six international flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. ANA has axed 219 domestic flights, and four international ones scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Cancellations are expected to affect up to 25,000 travellers.

The Shinkansen, Japan’s high-speed rail network, cancelled some services on Tuesday and Wednesday with cancellations expected to continue throughout Thursday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) estimated that Typhoon Shanshan was situated 70km (43 miles) from Yakushima Island at 2pm on Wednesday (5am GMT), heading north towards Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures on southwestern Kyushu, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The JMA said the typhoon will reach Kyushu within the next few days, heading towards the central and eastern regions, including the capital, Tokyo, by the weekend.

More than 50 flights were recently cancelled and residents evacuated after torrential rains across Spain’s Balearic Islands caused serious flooding.