TOKYO, JAPAN — Nearly two million people have been placed under evacuation orders across parts of Japan as powerful Typhoon Dujuan battered several prefectures, leaving at least two people dead and several others missing.
Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, reported that two people had died in incidents linked to the storm, while four others were reported missing in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency had earlier warned of an “imminent threat to life” as the typhoon approached, although some of the weather warnings have since been downgraded.
Dujuan brought sustained winds of about 130 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching 194 kilometres per hour, causing widespread disruption along Japan’s Pacific coast.
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Power Cuts, Flight Cancellations and Rail Disruptions
Strong winds knocked out electricity supplies to more than 50,000 people, while hundreds of flights were cancelled and rail services suspended as authorities struggled to cope with the storm.
The typhoon also disrupted events during a five-day holiday period in Japan.
Concerts scheduled for Monday at the Rock in Japan music festival were cancelled, while organizers of the Tokyo Game Show, one of the country’s major video game conventions, also cancelled Monday’s programme.
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Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain alert and continue monitoring official weather and emergency information as the storm moves north along the Pacific coast.
Deaths Reported as Landslides Cause Destruction
The Yokosuka City Fire Department told the BBC that a woman in her 60s was believed to have been swept away after a landslide struck her home.
Rescue teams searching the property later found the woman inside the house, where she was pronounced dead, according to NHK.
In a separate incident in Chiba Prefecture, a man in his 50s was reportedly trapped while working to clear debris at a landslide site.
The Sodegaura City Fire Department said the man fell into a bamboo thicket along with heavy machinery. He was rescued and taken to hospital, but local reports said he later died.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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Firefighters in Kanagawa Prefecture also received an emergency call from a man who reported that his house had been crushed by a landslide.
Japan’s Prime Minister Heads to US
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the storm.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said she had instructed senior government officials to respond with the highest level of preparedness.
Despite the severe weather situation, Takaichi proceeded with her scheduled trip to the United States.
She is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday and meet with US President Donald Trump during the visit.
Climate Change and El Niño Factors
Dujuan is the latest in a series of powerful storms affecting the Pacific region.
Scientists have noted that climate change can contribute to stronger tropical cyclones because warmer ocean waters provide storms with more energy. A warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture, potentially increasing rainfall during major storms.
However, scientists say climate change is not necessarily increasing the overall number of tropical cyclones globally and could result in fewer storms in some regions.
This year’s El Niño phenomenon is also playing a role in Pacific weather patterns.
El Niño does not have a straightforward effect on the total number of typhoons, but it can influence where storms develop, their intensity and the areas they eventually affect.
Some El Niño events can increase Japan’s exposure to stronger typhoons.
More Damage Could Be Revealed
Typhoon Dujuan, described as Japan’s 25th typhoon of the year, continued moving north along the country’s Pacific coast.
Authorities warned that the full extent of the destruction may not be immediately known until Tuesday, as emergency crews continue search-and-rescue operations and assess damage to homes, roads, power infrastructure and other public facilities.
Residents in affected areas have been urged to follow evacuation instructions and rely on official weather and emergency announcements as the typhoon continues its path northward.
