A powerful typhoon hitting the southwest Japan island region of Amami on Tuesday is expected to head for the country’s west in the next few days and could make landfall, the weather agency said, amid bullet train suspensions and prospects of further cancellations, Kyodo news agency reported.
Typhoon Shanshan’s sluggish pace could cause extended disruption, with the Japan Meteorological Agency forecasting heavy rain in a wide area covering Amami and western and eastern Japan’s Pacific coast.
The agency urged residents to be on alert for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing of swollen rivers. Amami and parts of western Japan are also expected to see strong winds, the agency said.
Heavy rains on Tuesday had already caused suspensions in the morning of some Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.
