Typhoon Dujuan Leaves Nine Dead as Record Rain Batters Japan’s Kanto Region

Typhoon Dujuan battered Japan’s Kanto region with torrential rain and powerful winds, triggering landslides, flooding and widespread transport disruption during the country’s Silver Week holiday.

The storm approached the Kanto region on 21 September before moving northeast away from Japan’s Pacific coast. Although Tokyo was not directly struck by the centre of the typhoon, the capital and surrounding prefectures experienced intense rainfall and dangerous weather conditions.

Authorities said at least nine people had died and four remained missing by Wednesday morning. Chiba Prefecture reported six deaths, while three people were confirmed dead in neighbouring Kanagawa. Search operations were continuing in areas affected by landslides and flooding.

More Than 1.6 Million Urged to Evacuate

At the height of the storm, more than 1.6 million residents in and around Tokyo were urged to evacuate as authorities warned of landslides, overflowing rivers and potentially life-threatening flooding.

The evacuation advisories were not mandatory, but residents in particularly vulnerable areas were encouraged to move to safer locations as rainfall intensified. Landslide warnings were issued across Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures.

The Izu Islands faced some of the most severe conditions, with the highest-level landslide warning issued for parts of the island chain.

Record Rainfall Triggers Landslides

Dujuan brought exceptional amounts of rainfall to parts of eastern Japan.

Oshima, part of Tokyo’s Izu island chain, recorded 832mm of rain within 48 hours, the highest level recorded there. Parts of Chiba also received close to 500mm over the same period, while rainfall records were broken in several areas of Tokyo.

The saturated ground triggered a series of landslides in Kanagawa and Chiba, some of which struck residential buildings.

Around 500 homes were reported damaged across Chiba, Kanagawa and Ibaraki prefectures, while emergency crews continued searching damaged buildings and flooded areas.

Power Cuts and Transport Disruption

The storm also caused major disruption to transport and electricity supplies.

Tens of thousands of households lost power, particularly in Chiba Prefecture, while railway operators suspended services on several routes.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled as conditions deteriorated around Tokyo, affecting passengers at major airports during one of Japan’s busiest holiday periods.

Threat Persists After Storm Moves Away

Dujuan had moved away from Japan by Tuesday night, but authorities warned that the danger had not completely passed.

Record rainfall left soil heavily saturated and rivers swollen, meaning landslides and flooding could still occur even after the rain stopped.

Emergency crews remain focused on locating missing people and assessing damage across the hardest-hit areas as communities begin recovering from one of the most damaging storms to affect eastern Japan this year.