Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan's Kyushu; millions evacuated, flights halted
Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan's Kyushu; millions evacuated, flights halted
The Facts
On Thursday, millions of people were ordered to evacuate their homes as Typhoon Shanshan struck southwest Japan with high winds and torrential rain. The tropical storm, the strongest to hit Japan this year, knocked out electricity, disrupting air travel and causing key companies to close.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the 180 km/h typhoon hit Unzen city in Nagasaki Prefecture. At a news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said three people had died and one was missing. The disaster management agency said people had suffered injuries.
The Spin
Typhoon Shanshan is probably the worst tropical storm to hit Japan in years. A recent study has found that the climate crisis has caused typhoons to originate closer to coasts, strengthen faster, and linger longer over land. The most powerful and devastating tropical cyclones have grown due to human-caused climate change, although the overall number of tropical cyclones per year has not changed. Warming seas provide more energy, making storms stronger and more devastating when they reach land. As warmer air contains more water vapor, tropical cyclones produce more extreme rainfall.
For Japan, which experiences heat waves, typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis annually, preparation is key. Japan is disaster-resilient and more equipped than most other nations. Since climate change makes tropical storms more severe, Japan should switch to renewable energy. On a national, regional, local, and individual level, disaster preparation is key and will save lives.
