At least three dead as Japan is lashed by Typhoon Shanshan

A damaged power line in Miyazaki, western Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

A typhoon lashed southern Japan with torrential rain and strong winds on Thursday, causing at least three deaths as it started a crawl up the length of the archipelago and raised concerns of flooding, landslides and extensive damage.

Typhoon Shanshan made landfall in the morning on the southern island of Kyushu and nearly two feet of rainfall had fallen in parts of Miyazaki prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.