Tropical Storm Shanshan Paralyzes Central Japan, Causes Fatalities

Tropical Storm Shanshan hit central Japan, disrupting trains and flooding areas in major cities. Originally a typhoon, it weakened but continued to bring heavy rains, causing six deaths and numerous injuries. The storm disrupted flights, halting bullet trains and leading to evacuation warnings in certain areas.

Tropical Storm Shanshan made a gradual entry into central Japan on Saturday, halting train services and causing substantial flooding in key cities like Osaka and Tokyo. Officials have issued warnings about heavy rains.

The storm, initially categorized as a typhoon, weakened but persisted with intense rainfall as it moved across the southwestern island of Shikoku and central Honshu. Winds weakened to 65 kilometers per hour, and Shanshan was traveling at 15 kph by late afternoon.

The meteorological agency forecasts the storm to impact parts of Japan through Sunday and Monday, with some uncertainty about its exact path. The slow-moving storm has led to six fatalities and numerous injuries, as reported by public broadcaster NHK.

(With inputs from agencies.)