Japan issues emergency warning as Typhoon Shanshan nears

Typhoon Shanshan slammed into Japan's main southern island of Kyushu early Thursday, with authorities advising thousands of people to evacuate and issuing the highest warning alert for wind and storm surges.

Southwestern Japan braced on Wednesday for what officials say could be one of the strongest storms to ever hit the region, as some residents in the path of the typhoon were ordered to evacuate and major firms like Toyota closed factories.

Airlines and rail operators have also cancelled some services for the coming days as the typhoon has been categorized as "very strong."

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued an emergency warning for storms and high waves for Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami region.

It has also issued an emergency storm surge warning for the Satsuma region in Kagoshima.

Kyushu's utility operator said that 254,610 houses were already without power.

"Special warnings of violent storms, high waves and high tides are being issued to the Kagoshima region (of Kyuhsu)," the Japan Meteorological Office said.

"Please exercise maximum vigilance against violent storms, high waves and high tides in Kagoshima, as well as landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and overflowing rivers in southern Kyushu," it said.

"Please also be advised that the risk of a disaster due to heavy rain can rapidly escalate in western Japan as Friday approaches."

Heavy rain brought by Shanshan has been lashing large parts of Japan since Tuesday.

Three members of a family died after a landslide buried a house in Gamagori, a city in central Aichi Prefecture, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported early Thursday, citing local government officials.

For southern Kyushu, the JMA predicted an enormous 1,100 mm of precipitation in the 48 hours to Friday morning.

Japan Airlines cancelled 172 domestic flights and six international flights scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, while ANA nixed 219 domestic flights and four international ones on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The cancellations affected around 25,000 people.

Kyushu Railway said it would suspend some Shinkansen bullet train services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima Chuo from Wednesday night and warned of further possible disruption.

Shanshan comes in the wake of Typhoon Ampil, which disrupted hundreds of flights and trains this month.

Despite dumping heavy rain, it caused only minor injuries and damage.

Ampil came days after Tropical Storm Maria brought record rains to northern areas.

Typhoons in the region have been forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change, according to a study released last month.