Typhoon Dujuan Brings Deadly Flooding and Disruption to Japan

Typhoon Dujuan has struck Japan, prompting evacuation orders for almost two million people across several prefectures. Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, reported that two people had died and four others were missing, while emergency services responded to incidents involving landslides, collapsed homes and people trapped by debris. In Kanagawa prefecture, a woman in her 60s was reportedly swept away and buried inside her home after a landslide. In Chiba, a man in his 50s died after becoming trapped in a bamboo thicket while clearing debris at a landslide site. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the deaths. Dujuan brought sustained winds of 130km/h and gusts reaching 194km/h. Power was cut to more than 50,000 people, and hundreds of flights were cancelled as rail services were suspended. The Japan Meteorological Agency had warned of an “imminent threat to life”, although some weather warnings were later downgraded. The storm was travelling north along Japan’s Pacific coast, and the full extent of the damage was not expected to be known until the following day. The typhoon disrupted events during a five-day holiday, including the Rock in Japan music festival and the Tokyo Game Show. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to those who died and said she had instructed senior ministers to prepare an urgent response. She nevertheless continued with a scheduled visit to the United States, where she was due to address the UN General Assembly and meet President Donald Trump. The article also examines the role of climate change and El Niño. Warmer oceans can intensify storms by providing more energy, while a warmer atmosphere can produce heavier rainfall. Although climate change is not believed to be increasing the global number of typhoons, storms that do form may become more intense. El Niño can influence where typhoons develop, how strong they become and which countries they affect.

Typhoon Dujuan was approaching Japan’s eastern coast, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue its highest-level emergency warning for parts of the Izu Islands. The agency described the situation as potentially life-threatening and urged residents to ensure their safety immediately. More than one million people were reportedly under evacuation advisories as the storm moved toward the Tokyo metropolitan area. The typhoon was producing winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour while positioned about 110 kilometers from Hachijojima, one of Tokyo’s remote islands. Heavy rain had already affected parts of the Izu Islands and Chiba prefecture, and the JMA warned that conditions could deteriorate quickly. Rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly total for September and potentially set records. Authorities also warned that linear rain bands could develop across central Japan and the Kanto region, including Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. These narrow bands can produce several hours of torrential rain, increasing the risks of flash floods, landslides and other rain-related disasters. The storm was already disrupting daily life and scheduled events. More than 4,000 households in Chiba had lost power. In Aichi prefecture, an equestrian eventing competition connected to the Asian Games was postponed, while the Tokyo Game Show was closed before its final day. The typhoon also threatened travel during Japan’s Silver Week holiday, a period that normally brings increased domestic travel. Japan Airlines canceled 120 domestic and 15 international flights, while All Nippon Airways canceled 140 domestic flights. Some railway services in Tokyo and nearby areas were also suspended. Dujuan was identified as Japan’s 25th typhoon of the year and was forecast to bring potentially record-breaking rainfall.

Tropical Storm Dujuan is moving along Japan’s coast and is expected to regain typhoon strength by Tuesday after briefly reaching typhoon status on Friday and weakening on Sunday. Although the storm has avoided a direct hit on mainland Japan, its projected path crosses the Izu Islands, where evacuation warnings have been issued. Authorities and residents are facing widespread risks from intense rainfall, flooding, landslides and dangerous waves, particularly in exposed coastal and island communities. Forecasts indicate exceptionally heavy rainfall across parts of central Japan. Southern coastal areas of the Chubu and Kanto regions could receive approximately 200mm in 24 hours, equivalent to the average rainfall for the entire month of September. The Tokyo metropolitan area could see nearly 90mm in six hours on Monday evening, while the Izu peninsula may receive more than 80mm in three hours. Dujuan is expected to move north-eastwards before dissipating over the north-west Pacific later in the week. The article also reports that the Atlantic hurricane season remains unusually quiet. Tropical Storm Fay formed south-west of the Azores but is not expected to intensify, potentially extending the satellite-era record for the latest formation of a first hurricane in an Atlantic season. The previous record was set or matched in 2002 and 2013. Meanwhile, south-west Europe is expected to experience a final burst of summer heat. Spain and Portugal may see temperatures in the low to mid-30s Celsius, with Santiago de Compostela potentially reaching 35C on Tuesday—around 12C above average. Warmer conditions are expected to spread into central Europe toward the weekend, though with less intensity than in the Iberian peninsula.