Severe tropical storm Shanshan is moving northward over Kyushu in southwestern Japan, blanketing the surrounding areas with heavy rainfall.
Weather officials are warning of massive downpours as bands of heavy rainclouds have formed over Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures in the Shikoku region, sharply increasing the risk of disasters.
The officials are urging people to take precautions against violent winds, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.
As of 7 p.m. on Thursday, Shanshan was believed to be slowly traveling north-northeast near the city of Shimabara in Nagasaki Prefecture, with maximum winds of up to 108 kilometers per hour.
Many areas were hit by downpours on Thursday as Shanshan headed northward. Bands of heavy rainclouds formed over Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures through Thursday morning.
Developing rainclouds are also bringing downpours to the Shikoku and Tokai regions, which are far from the tropical storm.
Rainfall in the hour through 6:30 p.m. reached 110 millimeters in Kamiita Town in Tokushima Prefecture and Higashikagawa City in Kagawa Prefecture. The Meteorological Agency issued information about a record-breaking deluge in a short period.
Strong winds continue to blow in western Japan. Shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, a maximum wind speed of around 156 kilometers per hour was recorded in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture. A gust of about 109 kilometers per hour was observed at Oki Airport in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Officials say maximum winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour will lash northern Kyushu and Shikoku on Friday. Winds of up to about 82 kilometers per hour are expected in southern Kyushu, Chugoku and Kinki.
During the 24 hours through Friday night, rainfall could reach 400 millimeters in Shikoku, 300 millimeters in northern Kyushu and Tokai, 250 millimeters in Kanto-Koshin, 200 millimeters in Chugoku and Kinki, and 150 millimeters in southern Kyushu.