Japan issues an emergency warning as the potent typhoon Shanshan approaches

Major companies like Toyota (7203.T) opened new tab closed factories as southwestern Japan readied for what officials said to be one of the biggest storms to ever hit the region on Wednesday. Residents in Typhoon Shanshan’s path were ordered to evacuate.

With gusts reaching 70 meters per second (252 km/h/157 mph), the “very strong” typhoon made landfall on Kyushu, the main southwestern island, and forced airlines and rail operators to cancel certain services for the next few days.

The weather service issued an emergency alert, stating that the storm might cause landslides, flooding, and wind powerful enough to destroy some homes.

The agency’s chief forecaster, Satoshi Sugimoto, told a press conference that “maximum caution is required given that forecasts are for strong winds, high waves, and high tides that have not been seen thus far.”

The storm is predicted to approach central and eastern regions, including the capital Tokyo, over the weekend after making landfall in Kyushu over the next few days, according to the agency.

More than 800,000 people in the southern Kyushu prefecture of Kagoshima and the central prefectures of Aichi and Shizuoka in Japan were ordered to evacuate by the authorities.

Two persons who were thought to be the occupants of a house that fell in a landslide following intense rains are missing from Aichi, the location of Toyota’s headquarters. The house’s three occupants had been removed, NHK, the public broadcaster, reported.

According to the company, Toyota will close all 14 of its plants in Japan on Wednesday night and reopen on Thursday morning. In addition, Honda (7267.T), opens new tab, announced that it would temporarily close its production in Kumamoto, southwestern Kyushu. Nissan (7201.T), opens new tab, announced that it will cease operations at its Kyushu plant on Thursday and Friday early.

Additionally, the carmaker announced that Mazda Motor (7261.T) is opening new tab plans to halt operations at its Hofu and Hiroshima facilities, both located in western Japan, from Thursday night through Friday.

After Typhoon Ampil last week, which also caused blackouts and evacuations, Shanshan is the most recent severe weather storm to impact Japan.

About 18,400 passengers would be impacted by the cancellation of over 210 domestic flights scheduled to depart or arrive in southwest Japan between Wednesday and Friday, according to ANA Holdings (9202.T), opens new tab.

Over the course of the same three days, 402 domestic flights would be canceled, according to Japan Airlines (9201.T), opens new tab. Ten of the carriers’ combined foreign routes will likewise be discontinued.