Typhoon Shanshan has caused significant damage in southwestern Japan, where many people have been injured, and power has been disrupted for over 250,000 households. The typhoon, which brought wind gusts of up to 252 kilometers per hour (156 miles per hour) and heavy rainfall, hit Kyushu island near the city of Satsumasendai early Thursday morning.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that up to 60 centimeters (about 24 inches) of rain may fall on Kyushu within the next 24 hours. According to NHK, the public broadcasting station, one person is reported missing, and 39 individuals have been injured in Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.

Aoi Nishimoto, an 18-year-old student from Fukuoka, communicated with his family in Miyazaki. “Our home is fine, but there was a tornado in Miyazaki, and power is out in some areas. It’s concerning,” he told AFP.

A Level 5 emergency warning has been issued for the city of Yufu in Oita Prefecture after the Miyakawa River overflowed its banks. The situation is similar in Usa, where the Yakkan River poses a flooding threat. Level 5 warnings are rare and indicate a life-threatening situation.

Power has been cut off to more than 250,000 households across seven prefectures, according to Kyushu Electric Power Company. The meteorological agency expects Shanshan to move through central and eastern Japan, including the capital, Tokyo, in the coming days. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for millions of residents.

“The risk of a disaster due to heavy rainfall can quickly escalate in western Japan as Friday approaches,” the officials warned.

Heavy rain from Shanshan has affected large parts of Japan since Tuesday. Three family members lost their lives when a landslide buried their home in Gamagori, a city in Aichi Prefecture, according to local media.

Automaker Toyota has suspended production at its 14 factories in Japan due to the typhoon, while Nissan and Honda have also halted operations at their facilities in Kyushu. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have collectively canceled hundreds of domestic flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and some railway services have been impacted as well.

Shanshan is the third major storm to hit Japan this month. A study from last month indicated that typhoons in the region are forming closer to the coasts, intensifying more quickly, and lasting longer over land due to climate change.