Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in Kagoshima prefecture in southwestern Japan on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and severe disruptions. The powerful storm brought heavy rain and winds reaching up to 198 km per hour (123 mph), causing significant damage and widespread power outages affecting over 250,000 households across seven prefectures.

The typhoon struck near Satsumasendai city on Kyushu island, with authorities warning it could be one of the most intense storms to impact the region. Local governments issued evacuation orders for millions of residents in multiple prefectures as a precaution.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that three people lost their lives, one person is missing, two are critically injured, and five sustained minor injuries due to the typhoon. He noted that the storm's slow movement could lead to substantial rainfall accumulation.

Public broadcaster NHK aired footage showing significant damage in Miyazaki city, with buildings suffering from torn walls and shattered windows, and debris scattered across streets and hanging from utility poles.

Major automakers, including Toyota and Nissan, halted operations at some or all of their domestic factories due to the storm's impact. Additionally, airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines canceled over 600 domestic flights, and train services across much of Kyushu were suspended.

Kyushu Electric Power Co. reported that as of 9:00 a.m. Thursday (0000 GMT), more than a quarter of a million households were without power. The storm is expected to linger over Kyushu for several days before moving toward central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo, by the weekend.

Typhoon Shanshan follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ampil, which also caused blackouts and prompted evacuations earlier in the month.