Typhoon Shanshan has left behind large-scale devasatation as it traveled from Miyazaki city in the south to Fukuoka and Usa in the north, after making landfall on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. 

Typhoons are common in Japan, especially during this part of the year, but this is one of the strongest typhoons to hit the region in decades.

Shanshan was classified as a 'very strong typhoon', which is the second-highest classification made by the country's weather agency.

Shanshan has now been downgraded to a 'severe tropical storm' but the slow pace of the storm increases the amount and duration of the rainfall, which can cause landslides and major flooding.

Shanshan Throws Life Out Of Gear

As on Friday, these landslides and roof collapses have resulted in four deaths and hundreds injured. 

According to Kyushu Electric Power, hundreds of thousands of homes are without power. The Typhoon started in the southwestern region, hovering over the island of Kyushu and is forecast to be moving towards the central and eastern parts of the country.

Authorities have issued ordered evacuation of more than five million people. 

Shanshan has forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled at major airports throughout the country.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said several sections of major highways running through Kyushu were closed and the Shinkansen bullet train services suspended.

Major automobile manufacturing companies like Toyota, Nissan and Honda as well as other semiconductor companies had to halt production and close their factories located in the path of the storm.

There are fears that the effects of the typhoon may spread further in the future, said Hayashi.

People's Safety First: PM Kishida

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held meetings with officials to do as much as can to respond to the damage considering the lasting effects of the storm.

"Please continue to put people’s safety first and cooperate closely with local authorities to take all possible measures to keep the public informed, support evacuation in advance in areas where danger is anticipated, and maintain a well-prepared disaster response centered on the police, fire department, and Self-Defense Forces," he said at the meeting on Thursday.

The government has set up a special disaster prevention team for Typhoon Shanshan. 

As the storm travels east towards the island of Shikoku, officials are urging people to stay in a safe area and not get close to swelling river banks. 

Climate Change Impacting Typhoons

According to a study released last month, typhoons forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly and lasting longer could be due to climate change.

Typhoon Gaemi caused massive destruction and killed dozens of people in the Philippines, Taiwan and China last month.

A study by the World Weather Attribution said that climate change had turbocharged Gaemi. 

Researchers from Imperial College London also found that Typhoon Shanshan's winds were made more likely due to the global warming.