Japan: Tropical Storm Shanshan tracking northeastward across Seto Inland Sea as of early Aug. 30 /update 8

Tropical Storm Shanshan is tracking northeastward across the Seto Inland Sea early Aug. 30. As of 12:00 JST, the system's center of circulation was approximately 93 km (57 miles) southwest of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Forecast models indicate that the system will track eastward and make landfall over far southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture the afternoon of Aug. 30 before making another landfall over northern Ehime Prefecture early Aug. 31. Shanshan will weaken into a tropical depression as it tracks eastward across Shikoku before exiting into the Philippine Sea late Aug. 31. The storm is likely to turn to track northward and make another landfall over southern Hyogo Prefecture late Sept. 1 before exiting into the Sea of Japan north of Kyoto Prefecture early Sept. 2.

As of early Aug. 30, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued a bulletin warning of strong winds, high waves, landslides, and flooding. The heaviest rainfall of 40 cm (16 inches) is forecast across southern Kyushu Aug. 30 and Tokai region Aug. 31. Swells and heavy seas are likely across western Japan.

The JMA has issued the following watches and warnings:

• Purple (the highest level on a three-tier scale) landslide warnings: Parts of western and central Ehime, eastern Fukuoka, western Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, northern and central Oita, southern Saitama, Shizuoka, Tokushima, and Tokyo prefectures.

• Red heavy rain, landslide, flood, strong wind, and high wave warnings: Most of the rest of western and central Japan.

Authorities will likely issue new warnings or update existing advisories throughout the system's progression in the coming days.

Millions of people are under evacuation orders. Authorities have issued black emergency safety evacuation orders (the highest level on a five-tier scale) for Kunisaki and Yufu cities in Oita Prefecture. Purple evacuation orders are in effect for parts of Aichi, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga, Shizuoka, Tokushima, and Tokyo prefectures, and red evacuation orders for the elderly and other vulnerable people across parts of the rest of western Japan.

A landslide in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, late Aug. 27 resulted in three fatalities, and two other people were injured. Another fatality occurred in Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture, due to a collapsed roof. 96 people across Kyushu have been injured, with most injuries in Miyazaki Prefecture. One person remains missing after falling into the sea from a vessel in Kagoshima Port late Aug. 28. Heavy rainfall caused the Kuzu River, which runs through Ninomiya Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, to overflow, flooding surrounding houses. At least 160 structures in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, are damaged. At the height of the storm, more than 255,000 households across Kyushu were without power; as of early Aug. 30, more than 139,000 households across Kyushu and more than 2,650 households across the Kanto region remain without power.

Airlines have canceled thousands of flights due to the storm and have warned that further flight disruptions are likely across western Japan over the coming days. The Tokaido Shinkansen suspended train services on all lines between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka early Aug. 30, but will resume operations between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka from around 10:00 Aug. 30. Operations between Tokyo and Nagoya will remain canceled through Aug. 30. The Kyushu Shinkansen suspended operations on all lines Aug. 30, while the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen also suspended operations early Aug. 30, but will operate with reduced frequency once it is safe to do so. The Sanyo Shinkansen suspended operations between Hiroshima and Hakata stations Aug. 30 and will operate with a significantly reduced frequency between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima stations, with direct services to the Tokaido Shinkansen suspended. Operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations could remain suspended Aug. 31.

Authorities have closed some sections of the Minami Kyushu, Kyushu, Higashi Kyushu, Oita, Miyazaki, Sanyo, Central Nippon, Tomei, Shin-Tomei, Chuo, and Ken-O expressways due to heavy rain and strong winds. A landslide blocked the entrance to the Zenba Tunnel on National Route 246 in Zenba, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture; there were no reports of injuries.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and those with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. If weather conditions prove hazardous, localized evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides are possible.

Inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions and render some bridges or roadways impassable. Additional flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary port closures are also possible. Stagnant pools of water during and after flooding may increase the incidence of insect- and waterborne diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, and malaria. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a serious health threat.