A devastating typhoon followed by heavy rain has caused severe flooding and landslides in Japan, leaving four members of a single-family missing, officials reported on Wednesday.
Typhoon San San struck early Wednesday morning, with winds reaching speeds of up to 252 kilometers per hour, located 80 kilometers northeast of the southern Amami island group.
According to officials, heavy rainfall on Tuesday night led to a house being swept away by floodwaters in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, resulting in the disappearance of the family members.
The house, which was home to five family members, was severely impacted by the landslide. One person was rescued, while the search continues for the other four, according to a Gamagori official.
The weather forecasting agency warned of heavy rain across Amami and Kagoshima Prefecture, with a possible alert being issued on Wednesday, an agency official announced at a press conference. Due to the typhoon, airlines in Japan have canceled dozens of flights, and bullet train operations may be suspended later this week.
Officials have projected that Typhoon San San could make landfall on Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu this week. The region has been frequently hit by typhoons, which, due to climate change, have been lingering over land for extended periods, as highlighted by a study released last month.
