Typhoon Shan-Shan Sweeps Through Several Japanese Islands; At Least Six Dead

Reports indicate that at least six people have died due to the powerful typhoon 'Shan-Shan' in Japan, despite it being downgraded to a tropical storm and weakened on Friday, September 9. This storm was one of the most severe to hit Japan in recent decades, battering Kyushu Island on Thursday with winds reaching up to 252 kilometers per hour. The storm's speed decreased to 108 kilometers per hour on Friday, but according to a report from Agence France-Presse citing local sources, it is still accompanied by heavy rain, and warnings about potential road damage and landslides remain in effect. In addition to the fatalities, official sources, including a government spokesperson, report that eight people were severely injured and 70 others sustained minor injuries, many of whom were hurt by broken glass and falling tiles and ceilings. Nearly 200 buildings have also been damaged due to Typhoon 'Shan-Shan'. An analysis of a study published on Friday by Imperial College London indicates that the likelihood of Typhoon Shan-Shan occurring has increased by 26% due to global warming. Ralph Tummy, director of the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, stated, 'Without the gradual phasing out of fossil fuels as the main cause of climate change, storms will bring greater devastation to Japan.' The occurrence of the storm prompted Japanese officials to issue the highest warnings in several regions; more than five million people have been advised to evacuate their homes, although it is unclear how many will heed this advice. On Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency also issued warnings for landslides in many areas from Kyushu to Shizuoka on the main island of Honshu, as well as in the Tokyo area and Kanagawa nearby.