The powerful Typhoon Roke has hit Japan and four deaths have already been reported in a country that has not fully recovered from the massive and widespread earthquake and tsunami from this spring. Not wanting to take any chances with its workers’ lives, both Toyota and Nissan have closed some plans early today.
Roke has hit landfall at 2 PM local time, packing winds of 220 km/h (130 mph) according to Automotive News. The result has been a power cutout to more than 575,500 households in Tokyo Electric Power service area.
A Toyota spokesperson has said that 11 factories had to be closed early and evening shifts have been removed from the schedule. Toyota will make up for lost output by increasing production on subsequent shifts. Nissan has halted production at only two facilities so far.
"We need to exercise maximum caution against heavy rains, strong winds and high waves in wide areas from eastern to northern Japan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference.
A Toyota spokesperson has said that 11 factories had to be closed early and evening shifts have been removed from the schedule. Toyota will make up for lost output by increasing production on subsequent shifts. Nissan has halted production at only two facilities so far.
"We need to exercise maximum caution against heavy rains, strong winds and high waves in wide areas from eastern to northern Japan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference.