Tropical Storm Lashes Japan With Heavy Rain

A slow-moving tropical storm wreaked havoc across Japan on Friday, drenching Tokyo and its surrounding regions with torrential rain and causing severe flooding in the south.

The storm, named Shanshan, brought widespread disruption as it moved across the country, intensifying the risk of flooding and landslides.

Shanshan has claimed six lives so far. Before making landfall, Shanshan triggered a landslide that killed three people.

Three more deaths have since been reported: An 80-year-old man in Fukuoka who fell into a river, another elderly man who was thrown to the ground at a shrine in Saga prefecture and a victim in Tokushima who died when the roof of his house collapsed.

Over 100 people have been injured, most of them in the Kyushu region, and two people are missing.

The Kanagawa prefecture, or administrative area, just west of Tokyo, has been particularly hard-hit, with floodwaters inundating roads and stalling vehicles. Authorities issued warnings for heavy rain and potential landslides in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures.

In Tokyo, muddy water surged through the Meguro River, a popular spot known for cherry blossom viewing, as water levels rose dramatically, according to footage aired by NHK.

In the town of Hiratsuka, cars were partially submerged in water, and pedestrians waded through floodwaters up to their thighs. Nearby, in Ninomiya, a river overflowed, stranding vehicles and clogging a bridge with debris.

Shanshan initially made landfall on Thursday morning on the southern main island of Kyushu as a powerful typhoon.

Although it has since weakened, the storm’s slow pace has exacerbated the rainfall, heightening the risk of disaster, experts warned.

By Friday night, Shanshan was lingering over Shikoku island, east of Kyushu, moving at a slow pace that increased the likelihood of prolonged heavy rain.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the storm was moving east toward the Shikoku and Honshu islands, with winds of 44 miles (72 kilometers) per hour but a forward speed of just 6 miles(10 kilometers) per hour.

The slow-moving storm is expected to dump up to 11 inches (30 centimeters) of rain on Shikoku and central Japan, and up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) on Tokyo and nearby areas through to Saturday noon.

The storm’s impact has been felt across Japan, paralyzing transportation, delivery services and businesses. Hundreds of domestic flights connecting southwestern cities were canceled, and Shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended on Friday.

Postal and delivery services were largely halted in Kyushu and Shikoku, while supermarkets and other stores in the region were forced to close.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.