Typhoon Shanshan has made landfall in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima. The Japan Meteorological Agency has downgraded storm and high wave emergency warnings from the highest alert level for much of the prefecture, but people are still strongly urged to take precautions against violent winds, heavy rains, and landslides.
Weather officials say Shanshan made landfall in the city of Satsumasendai around 8 a.m. on Thursday.
As of 10 a.m., they said the typhoon was moving north-northeast of Minamata city in Kumamoto Prefecture at 15 kilometers per hour.
Already, some areas have seen more than 700 millimeters of rainfall in just over 48 hours.
Bands of heavy rainclouds could form over much of Kyushu, as well as Yamaguchi Prefecture and the Shikoku region, in the coming hours into Friday. That will increase the risk of rain-related disasters.
A mudslide alert is currently in effect for parts of Kyushu, Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku, and Shizuoka Prefecture.
Meteorologists also say the typhoon may produce gusts strong enough to knock down some houses.