By Jamie Whitehead and Kurumi Mori, Tokyo Correspondents
Japan is facing a severe weather crisis as Typhoon Dujuan, a powerful and destructive storm, barrels across several of the country’s prefectures, prompting widespread emergency measures and leaving a tragic toll in its wake. As of today, nearly two million people across various regions have been placed under official evacuation orders, as local authorities scramble to manage the mounting risks posed by the relentless winds and torrential rains.
The country’s public broadcaster, NHK, has confirmed that at least two people have lost their lives in the chaos, while four others remain missing. The scale of the emergency is further underscored by reports from Kanagawa prefecture, where another four individuals have been declared missing, sparking urgent search and rescue operations in areas hit by landslides and severe flooding.
A State of Imminent Threat
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) had issued urgent warnings early on, alerting the public to what it described as an "imminent threat to life." While some of these high-level warnings have been downgraded as the storm tracks along the Pacific coast, the situation remains fluid and hazardous. The sheer force of Dujuan has been staggering, with sustained winds clocked at 130 km/h (80.8 mph) and violent gusts reaching up to 194 km/h.
The physical impact on infrastructure has been immediate and widespread. More than 50,000 households have been plunged into darkness due to extensive power outages caused by the high winds toppling utility poles and damaging transmission lines. The nation’s transportation network has also come to a standstill; hundreds of flights have been scrubbed, and major rail services have been suspended, leaving thousands of travelers stranded during a holiday period.
The timing of the storm has been particularly unfortunate, as it has struck in the middle of a five-day national holiday. The festive atmosphere has been replaced by anxiety, with numerous events forced into cancellation. Major cultural and entertainment fixtures, including concerts at the Rock in Japan music festival and the Monday programming of the prestigious Tokyo Game Show, were abruptly called off as organizers prioritized the safety of attendees and staff.
Tragic Toll and Rescue Efforts
Local authorities have been working around the clock to address the fallout of the storm. In a heartbreaking development, the Yokosuka City Fire Department confirmed the death of a woman in her 60s. Reports indicate that her home was struck, and she was likely swept away by the force of the impact. Rescue crews eventually located her remains inside the debris of the property.
In a separate, equally harrowing incident in the Chiba prefecture, a man in his 50s lost his life while attempting to mitigate the damage caused by the storm. The Sodegaura City Fire Department reported that the man was working to clear debris at a landslide site when he fell into a dense bamboo thicket alongside heavy machinery. Despite being rescued and rushed to a local hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries. Police are currently investigating the specific circumstances of the accident, which highlights the extreme dangers faced by those attempting to manage the storm’s aftermath.
Further reports from Kanagawa prefecture tell of a man who managed to alert emergency services after his home was crushed by a landslide. These accounts of localized destruction are indicative of the broader instability caused by the extreme rainfall, which has saturated the ground and triggered multiple earth movements across the region.
The Role of Climate Change and "Super El Niño"
Meteorologists and climate experts have pointed to the confluence of several factors that have intensified this particular storm. Dujuan is the 25th typhoon to hit Japan this year, a figure that highlights the active nature of the current Pacific storm season. A significant contributor to this volatility is the "super El Niño" phenomenon. This natural climate pattern, characterized by the warming of waters in the tropical Pacific, has created a fertile environment for the formation and intensification of storms.
While scientists are cautious about stating that climate change increases the total number of storms globally—and in some regions, it may even contribute to a decrease—there is a growing consensus that the storms that do form are becoming significantly more intense. The logic is grounded in basic thermodynamics: as the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans continue to warm, typhoons are able to draw more energy from the water, resulting in higher sustained wind speeds.
Furthermore, a warmer atmosphere possesses a greater capacity to hold moisture. This leads to storms that carry and dump significantly larger volumes of rain, increasing the risk of the types of landslides and flooding that have paralyzed parts of Japan this week. Some researchers have suggested that Japan, in particular, may be becoming increasingly exposed to these destructive weather patterns, shifting the risk profile for coastal and mountainous communities alike.
Government Response and International Duties
The disaster has necessitated a high-level response from the Japanese government. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took to social media to express her deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. However, her response also sparked discussion regarding the necessity of her international obligations.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister stated, "With a sense of urgency, I instructed Chief Cabinet Secretary Takehara and Minister Hosono to respond with utmost preparedness." Following these directives, she proceeded with her scheduled travel to the United States. The Prime Minister is set to address the UN General Assembly in New York this Tuesday, and she has a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump on her agenda. The government maintains that the continuity of these diplomatic engagements is essential, even while the cabinet remains focused on the domestic crisis.
Looking Ahead
As the storm continues its path northward along the Pacific coast, the full extent of the damage is yet to be realized. Many areas remain inaccessible, and the true cost in terms of human impact and infrastructure damage may not be fully understood until the skies clear and emergency teams can reach the most isolated locations.
For now, authorities continue to urge the public to exercise extreme caution, stay tuned to official weather broadcasts, and prioritize safety above all else. With the ground saturated and the risk of further landslides high, the danger is far from over. Additional reporting by Chie Kobayashi and climate reporter Mark Poynting continues to monitor the situation, as the nation waits to assess the total toll of Typhoon Dujuan.
