Flights Cancelled as Typhoon Dujuan Brings Heavy Rain to Japan
Hundreds of flights were cancelled and more than 1.6 million people were urged to evacuate in Japan as Typhoon Dujuan approached the Tokyo region, bringing the threat of torrential rain, flooding and landslides.
The powerful storm was moving towards the Kanto region on September 21, with authorities warning that conditions could deteriorate rapidly. The Japan Meteorological Agency said rainfall could become particularly intense as the typhoon moved north, with some areas potentially experiencing record-breaking rainfall.
Dujuan was producing winds of around 144 kilometres per hour as it moved to approximately 130 kilometres south of Katsuura City in Chiba Prefecture. Although the storm was not expected to make a direct landfall in central Tokyo, its extensive rain bands were affecting a wide area around the capital.
More Than 1.6 Million People Urged to Evacuate
Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 1.6 million residents in and around Tokyo had been urged to evacuate from areas at risk. The evacuation advice was not mandatory, but authorities warned residents to take the threat from flooding and landslides seriously.
Landslide warnings were issued for Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures as heavy rain continued across parts of eastern Japan. Officials were particularly concerned about locations where already saturated ground could become unstable following prolonged rainfall.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that the total amount of rain falling through September 22 could exceed the average rainfall normally recorded during the entire month of September in some locations.
The agency also warned about the possibility of linear rain bands forming over the Kanto and central Japan regions. These narrow areas of intense rainfall can remain over the same location for several hours and significantly increase the risk of flash flooding and landslides.
Air Travel Hit by the Storm
The approaching typhoon caused widespread disruption to air travel. Japan Airlines cancelled 135 flights, while All Nippon Airways cancelled another 140 flights as the storm approached the Tokyo area.
The cancellations affected both passengers travelling within Japan and people using Tokyo's airports to connect with international destinations. Travellers were advised to check directly with their airlines before travelling because further cancellations and delays were possible as weather conditions changed.
The disruption extended beyond aviation. Railway operators in Tokyo and neighbouring areas suspended services on some lines as heavy rain and strong winds created difficult operating conditions.
The transport disruption demonstrated how quickly a major typhoon can affect movement across the wider Tokyo metropolitan area. Even when the centre of a storm remains offshore, heavy rainfall and flooding can cause problems across roads, railways and airport connections.
Flooding and Power Outages Reported
The storm had already caused flooding in several locations as rain intensified. Images from Kamakura showed water covering roads around the popular tourist area near Kamakura Station.
Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo warned residents that travelling by car was dangerous because flooding had affected different parts of the city. Other areas around Tokyo and Chiba also experienced flooding as rivers and drainage systems came under pressure from the heavy rainfall.
Thousands of households were also without electricity. More than 9,000 households in areas near Tokyo had lost power as the storm brought strong winds and heavy rain.
The combination of flooding, power outages and transport cancellations created difficulties for residents and visitors alike. Authorities continued to monitor rivers, roads and vulnerable areas as the typhoon moved through the region.
Events Cancelled Across Japan
Typhoon Dujuan also disrupted a number of major events. The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's largest video game trade events, was forced to close early on its final scheduled day because of the approaching storm.
Events in Chiba were also affected. A major outdoor music festival and a baseball game scheduled to take place in the prefecture were cancelled because of the weather conditions.
The storm also affected sporting events elsewhere in Japan. At the Asian Games being held in Aichi Prefecture, organisers postponed an equestrian competition because of the approaching weather.
The disruption illustrated the wider impact of the storm beyond areas directly threatened by flooding. Events involving large numbers of spectators can be particularly difficult to operate safely when severe weather affects transport networks and surrounding infrastructure.
Prime Minister's Travel Delayed
The typhoon also affected the schedule of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose planned departure for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly was delayed by four hours because of the storm.
The delay was another indication of the disruption caused by the weather as authorities dealt with deteriorating conditions around the capital and other parts of eastern Japan.
While the typhoon's strongest winds remained offshore, its associated rain bands were capable of producing dangerous conditions over a much wider area. Officials therefore continued to urge residents in vulnerable locations to pay attention to evacuation information and local weather warnings.
Warnings Over Further Heavy Rain
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that heavy rain could continue even as Typhoon Dujuan moved north. Takuya Hosomi of the agency warned that rainfall could remain a significant threat in areas where weather warnings were already in place.
The possibility of concentrated rain bands was particularly concerning because these systems can produce extremely heavy rainfall over a relatively small area. Such conditions can cause rivers to rise rapidly and trigger flash floods or landslides with limited warning.
Residents in areas covered by evacuation advice were therefore encouraged to move to safer locations before conditions became more difficult. Authorities also warned people against unnecessary travel, particularly through flooded areas or locations vulnerable to landslides.
Typhoon Causes Widespread Disruption
Typhoon Dujuan's approach demonstrated the broad impact that a major storm can have on Japan's infrastructure and daily life. Flights were cancelled, railway services were disrupted, events were called off and thousands of homes lost power.
The immediate concern was the continuing threat from heavy rain rather than the storm's winds alone. With saturated ground and rivers already under pressure, further rainfall could increase the risk of flooding and landslides across parts of eastern Japan.
Japan regularly experiences powerful typhoons during late summer and early autumn, but each storm can produce different risks depending on its track, rainfall and interaction with local terrain.
As Dujuan moved through the region, authorities continued monitoring rainfall, river levels and landslide risks while residents were urged to follow local evacuation advice. The storm's effects showed that even when a typhoon does not make a direct strike on Tokyo, its surrounding weather systems can still cause major disruption across the capital and neighbouring prefectures.
Source: Japan Today
