Shanshan, Downgraded from Typhoon, Leaves 7 Dead, Damage in Japan

 Firefighters help clean up floodwater out of a house in Ogaki, central Japan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, following a tropical storm in the area. (Natsumi Yasumoto/Kyodo News via AP)
Firefighters help clean up floodwater out of a house in Ogaki, central Japan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, following a tropical storm in the area. (Natsumi Yasumoto/Kyodo News via AP)
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Shanshan, Downgraded from Typhoon, Leaves 7 Dead, Damage in Japan

 Firefighters help clean up floodwater out of a house in Ogaki, central Japan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, following a tropical storm in the area. (Natsumi Yasumoto/Kyodo News via AP)
Firefighters help clean up floodwater out of a house in Ogaki, central Japan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, following a tropical storm in the area. (Natsumi Yasumoto/Kyodo News via AP)

Tropical cyclone Shanshan, downgraded from a typhoon, left seven people dead and widespread damage as it churned off the Pacific coast of central Japan on Sunday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to warn of landslides, floods and rising water levels in rivers in western and eastern Japan, citing increased risks due to ground loosening from record-breaking rainfall since the storm hit the southern coast on Thursday.

On the Pacific side of eastern Japan, unstable atmospheric conditions caused by rain clouds around the tropical cyclone and the inflow of warm, moist air from a Pacific high-pressure system were causing heavy rain and thunderstorms, the agency said.

Some Shinkansen "bullet train" services remained disrupted, but Tokyo-Osaka service, suspended in some sections, will resume on Sunday evening, Central Japan Railway said.

The seventh death from Shanshan was reported in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan on Sunday, Kyodo news agency said.

Before that, the typhoon had crept eastward, drenching large areas with torrential rain, triggering landslide and flood warnings hundreds of kilometers from the storm's center.



Holy Makkah Municipality Launches Digital Afforestation Initiative

Holy Makkah Municipality Launches Digital Afforestation Initiative
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Holy Makkah Municipality Launches Digital Afforestation Initiative

Holy Makkah Municipality Launches Digital Afforestation Initiative

The Holy Makkah Municipality in Saudi Arabia has launched a digital afforestation initiative, enabling citizens and residents to join efforts to increase the vegetation cover, expand green spaces, protect the environment, and reduce carbon emissions.

The municipality identifies tree species appropriate for Makkah and the holy sites, along with suitable planting locations. These details are then uploaded to the Nabatik online platform that enables individuals to choose their preferred tree, select the location, make online payments, and have the trees planted on their behalf, thus enabling the community to participate in the tree-planting efforts from the comfort of their homes.

This effort aims to contribute to achieving climate goals, increase the number of trees in Makkah and the holy sites, and document the municipality's afforestation efforts through the Nabatik platform.