Typhoon 'Sansan' Moves Eastward Past Shikoku, Japan Toward Osaka... "7 Dead or Missing"

"Injured Number at 125"…Rail and Air Operations Disrupted
Tropical Depression Expected in Two Days
Rain Clouds Still Present, Raising Concerns of Additional Damage

Typhoon No. 10 "Sansan," which is traversing the Japanese archipelago, struck Kyushu and is now passing through Shikoku, heading toward the Kansai region where Osaka is located.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency on the 31st, as of 6 a.m., Sansan has exited Shikoku and is heading east toward Wakayama Prefecture. Osaka is located above Wakayama Prefecture.

The central pressure of the typhoon is 996 hPa (hectopascal), with maximum wind speeds near the center reaching 18 m/s and maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 25 m/s. The typhoon's intensity has significantly weakened compared to when it approached the Japanese archipelago three days ago.

The Japan Meteorological Agency expects Typhoon Sansan to change into a tropical depression by the 2nd of next month. However, heavy rain clouds will remain over the Japanese archipelago afterward, so they have urged caution against landslides and flooding in areas where the ground has softened due to record-breaking heavy rain and near rivers.

The expected rainfall over 24 hours until the morning of the following day (September 1) is 300 mm in Tokai (central Honshu), 200 mm in Kanto including the metropolitan area and Kinki (western-central Honshu), and 120 mm in Shikoku.

Earlier, Sansan made landfall in Kyushu on the 29th and moved eastward, drawing rain clouds as far as the metropolitan area, resulting in record-breaking rainfall. Consequently, damages such as landslides, house destruction, river flooding, and inundation occurred continuously. At one point early the previous day, a "flood risk information" alert was issued for the Meguro River in central Tokyo, and evacuation orders were issued for 11 wards in Tokyo, including Shinjuku and Setagaya.

According to NHK's tally, the typhoon has caused 6 deaths, 1 missing person, and 125 injuries. Factory shutdowns and store closures have also followed. Toyota Motor Corporation decided to continue the suspension of operations at its factories in Japan, which began two days ago, until the morning of the 2nd.

Transportation disruptions are also occurring in various places. The Tokaido Shinkansen suspended operations between Mishima Station in Shizuoka Prefecture and Nagoya Station from the first train on this day. However, the Kyushu Shinkansen is operating as usual, and the Sanyo Shinkansen has only reduced the number of trains. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have canceled 22 and 39 flights, respectively.