Japan Issues Emergency Warning Topan Shanshan, Toyota Factory To Nissan Stop Operational

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JAKARTA - Japan in the southwest region is preparing to face one of the strongest hurricanes by Typhoon Shanshan. Residents on the path of the typhoon trajectory were ordered to evacuate.

Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, August 28, major companies such as Toyota, airlines and rail operators canceled some services for the coming days as the typhoons categorized as very powerful, crashing into the main island southwest of Kyushu.

The meteorological agency issued an emergency warning saying the typhoon could cause floods, landslides, and strong winds that could knock down several houses.

"The maximum vigilance is needed considering weather forecasts show strong winds, high waves, and ups and downs that have not been seen so far," said Satoshi Sugimoto, head of the body's weather forecaster.

After hitting Kyushu, over the next few days, the storm is expected to approach the central and eastern regions, including the capital Tokyo, around the weekend, the agency said.

Authorities issued evacuation orders for more than 800,000 residents in Kagoshima prefecture in southern Kyushu and Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures in central Japan.

In Aichi, where Toyota's head office is located, two people who are believed to be residents of the house that collapsed due to landslides during heavy rains were reported missing.

The three occupants of the house have been evacuated, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Toyota will suspend operations at all 14 factories in Japan from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, he said.

Meanwhile, Nissan will suspend operations at its factory in Kyushu on Thursday and Friday morning.

Meanwhile, Honda will temporarily close its factory in Kumamoto in southwest Kyushu.

It was also reported that ANA Holdings said it would cancel more than 210 domestic flights in total between Wednesday and Friday scheduled to depart or arrive in southwest Japan, affecting some 18,400 passengers.

Meanwhile, Japan Airlines said it would cancel 170 domestic flights as of Thursday. A total of 10 international flights operated by the two airlines will also be suspended.