Typhoon Dujuan Hits Japan: 1.67 Million Residents Ordered to Evacuate

Typhoon Dujuan has slammed Japan’s eastern coast, prompting evacuation orders for more than 1.6 million residents, mass flight cancellations and widespread flooding and landslides across the Kanto region. The storm, already the 25th to form in the Pacific this year, has disrupted the Asian Games, the Tokyo Game Show and the popular Tokyo Disney Resort, turning a holiday weekend into a national emergency.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that the typhoon’s winds, which have reached 130 km/h at its centre with gusts up to 194 km/h, were intensifying as it slowed over unusually warm waters near the Izu Islands. The agency issued a level‑4 alert for much of the east coast and a level‑5 emergency warning for the Izu Islands, the highest on its scale.

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Rainfall totals are expected to be heavy and persistent. Forecasts for the Kanto region predict up to 250 mm of precipitation, while the Tokai region could see up to 350 mm. The JMA said that the total rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly rainfall for September, a figure that, if reached, would be record‑breaking. DW highlighted the risk of linear rain bands that could dump extraordinary amounts of rain over narrow areas for several hours.

Power outages have already affected around 50,000 homes, with 9,000 households near Tokyo losing electricity, according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Rail operators suspended services on several lines in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. The Tokyo Game Show, a major video‑game convention, was forced to close its doors early on Monday, and a large outdoor music festival and a baseball match in Chiba were also cancelled. Bbc noted that the equestrian event at the Asian Games in Aichi was postponed to Tuesday.

Casualties reported by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) include two deaths and four missing persons, all linked to landslides. A woman in her 60s was believed to have been buried alive after a landslide crushed her house in Yokosuka, while a man in Chiba was rescued after being trapped while clearing debris. The Yokosuka city fire department confirmed that the woman had been found inside her home and was pronounced dead.

The typhoon’s impact on tourism was stark. The Tokyo Disney Resort, located in Urayasu, Chiba, remained open on Monday but faced significant challenges. Guests reported strong winds that made umbrellas ineffective and heavy rain that soaked clothing and equipment. The resort’s official schedule listed Tokyo Disneyland operating from 9:00 a.m. To 9:00 p.m., but several attractions and outdoor shows were likely curtailed. Inside the Magic highlighted the contrast between the park’s normal operations and the surrounding chaos of flooding and flight cancellations.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York was delayed by four hours, with her departure rescheduled for 11 p.m. Local time. She had been due to arrive in New York on Tuesday to speak at the assembly.

While the typhoon has not made a direct landfall on Honshu, its path skirts the coast and moves southward, bringing intense rainfall and wind to the Kanto region. The JMA warned that conditions could deteriorate rapidly as the storm passes close to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The agency’s chief forecaster, Takuya Hosomi, said that it was “extremely likely that some form of disaster has already occurred in landslide‑prone areas and similar zones” and that “there is an imminent threat to life.”

In addition to the immediate hazards, the storm threatens to exacerbate the ongoing “Silver Week” holiday, a five‑day public holiday period that normally sees a surge in domestic travel. The typhoon’s timing has forced the cancellation of several events, including the Rock in Japan music festival and the final day of the Tokyo Game Show. The disruption extends to the Asian Games, where athletes and officials are facing uncertainty as the event’s schedule is adjusted.

What to Watch Next

• Monitor the JMA’s daily updates for rainfall totals and wind speeds, especially the forecast for Tuesday.
• Check flight status updates from BBC and airline websites for resumption times.
• Stay informed about power restoration efforts in affected prefectures, particularly in Chiba and Tokyo.
• Follow local authorities’ advice on evacuation and shelter use, especially in the Izu Islands and Chiba.

As Typhoon Dujuan continues to move northward, the focus will shift from immediate evacuation and emergency response to recovery and infrastructure repair. The Japanese government has mobilised disaster response teams, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency has issued ongoing advisories. The storm’s long‑term impact will be measured by the extent of flooding, landslides, and damage to transportation and electrical grids, as well as the effectiveness of emergency services in mitigating casualties.