Japan Hit by Typhoon Shanshan: Flight and Train Cancellations and Travel Disruptions

Hundreds of flights were cancelled in Japan Friday, as were trains in several parts of the country which is still sheltering from the deadly Typhoon Shanshan.

A number of major highways and expressways also remained closed across Japan because of the intense wind and rain caused by the tropical cyclone.

Shanshan made landfall Thursday, leading to mudslides and flooding that killed six people and injured at least 100 more.

The typhoon is in the midst of weakening as it moves east across the island nation but forecasters are still calling for heavy rain far from the storm’s centre as well as strong winds.

Up to 11.8 inches of rain is expected to fall over a 24-hour period through 6 p.m. JST Saturday in several areas around the Shizuoka Prefecture on the island of Honshu. Some areas in southern and southwestern Japan had already seen around 15.5 inches through Friday afternoon.

Japan Airlines announced it would cancel an initial 296 domestic flights Friday. The country’s flag carrier, however, added ten total flights Friday distributed across Haneda, Itami and Nagoya airports.

All Nippon Airways announced the same day it was cancelling 385 domestic and international flights through Saturday evening.

Shanshan was located in the prefecture of Ehime on the island of Shikoku and moving east-northeast at 9.3 mph with winds gusting up to 56 mph, according to the latest update from forecasters issued at 6 p.m. JST Friday.

Train service is also severely impacted.

Hundreds of trains have been cancelled across the country. Central Japan Railway suspended all high-speed service between Tokyo and Nagoya through Friday.

Only two of the slower Kodama trains are running per hour on the busy route between Nagoya and Osaka.

The railway also warned of further cancellations or delays through next Tuesday.

Other railroads across the country were cancelling or heavily reducing service as well. (UPI)