The largest Japanese automakers are forced to suspend work at a number of their plants due to the devastating typhoon “Shanshan”, which hit the country. According to MarketWatch, Toyota, Honda and Nissan announced a temporary suspension of production at some plants, INTERFAX.RU reported.
Toyota Motor, the leader of the Japanese auto industry, has decided to shut down 28 production lines at 14 plants by the end of the week. Honda Motor also announced the suspension of its plant in Kumamoto Prefecture. Nissan Motor plans to halt production at plants located on the southern island of Kyushu until at least Friday evening.
Typhoon “Shanshan” hit Kyushu on Thursday, bringing heavy rainfall. Some prefectures received about 80 centimeters of rain in 48 hours. The disaster disrupted transportation: high-speed train service between Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures was canceled, as well as about 550 domestic flights.
Meteorologists warn of a high risk of landslides, floods and river overflows. It is predicted that some southern areas of Kyushu may receive up to 60 cm of rainfall within a day.
The consequences of the typhoon have already caused injuries to dozens of residents of Kyushu Island. According to various sources, the number of injured varies from 40 to 54 people, with one person reported missing.
More than a quarter of a million homes were left without power. Some 160 cases of building damage were reported in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The typhoon is currently moving northward toward Kumamoto Prefecture. It is expected that in the future “Shanshan” may affect the main islands of the Japanese archipelago.
