Japan prepares for powerful Typhoon Shanshan

Japan is preparing for a powerful typhoon as it slowly approached the country’s south-west, threatening to bring heavy rains and strong winds and cancelling flights and train services.

Typhoon Shanshan was roughly 75 miles south of the southern island of Yakushima on Wednesday morning as it headed north toward Kyushu, packing winds of up to 112mph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The agency said the typhoon is expected to reach southern Kyushu and possibly make landfall on Thursday, and issued a high-level warning against violent winds, high waves and heavy rain for the Kagoshima prefecture.

Disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura urged residents in Shanshan’s predicted path to take precautionary measures, such as by checking their nearest shelters, to save their own lives.

Mr Matsumura urged residents, especially older adults, not to hesitate and take shelter whenever there is any safety concern. The government also cancelled its annual earthquake drills on Sunday to free up disaster response resources.

So far, no damage nor injuries have been reported from the typhoon.

Dozens of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities and islands will be cancelled through until Friday.

Japan Railway companies said most bullet trains and local train services were operating normally on Wednesday, but many on Kyushu would be suspended on Thursday.

Similar steps may be taken on the main island of Honshu until Sunday.

Postal and delivery services have been also suspended in the Kyushu region, and supermarkets and other stores announced plans to close early.

The JMA forecast up to 600mm (23.6in) of rainfall on southern Kyushu over 24 hours.