Over five million people in Japan have been urged to evacuate their homes due to Typhoon Shanshan, which has caused landslides resulting in four deaths and more than 80 injuries.
This is the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in over 20 years, affecting the southeastern parts of the country and causing widespread power outages.
As BBC reported the level five order issued in parts of the southern island of Kyushu told residents to take immediate life-saving action by moving to a safer location or seeking shelter higher in their homes. In other areas, people have been advised to leave.
After making landfall, the typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm and is pummeling its way north-east, bringing torrential rain and severe disruption to transport services.
Shanshan landed in Kagoshima prefecture, in the southern island of Kyushu, at around 08:00 local time on Thursday (23:00 GMT Wednesday), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
It has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with many buildings damaged and windows shattered by flying debris, trees uprooted and cars overturned.
Late on Tuesday, three people from the same family – a couple in their 70s and a man in his 30s – were killed by a landslide in central Japan ahead of the typhoon’s arrival. Their home in Gamagori was swept away, while two other female relatives were rescued.
A fourth person was confirmed dead by police on Thursday. The 80-year-old man from Tokushima prefecture was trapped after the roof of a house collapsed about 17:30 local time (08:30 GMT), according to Japan’s national broadcaster NHK.
The fire brigade rescued the man around 50 minutes after the incident but he later died in hospital.
The JMA recorded 110mm of rainfall in the area around the time of the incident.
The agency has issued its rare “special warning” for the most violent storms, warning of landslides, flooding and large-scale damage. High winds of up to 252 km/h (157mph) have been reported on Kyushu.
Most of the evacuation orders are in place for the southern island, but some were also issued for central Japan.
Videos online show large trees swaying, tiles blown off houses, and debris being thrown into the air as heavy rains lashed the island.
Major carmakers like Toyota and Nissan shut down their plants, citing the safety of employees as well as potential parts shortages caused by the storm.
