Typhoon Dujuan Prompts Evacuations in Japan
Millions were urged to evacuate as powerful Typhoon Dujuan made landfall, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
Millions of people in Japan were urged to evacuate as Typhoon Dujuan made landfall, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The Japan Meteorological Agency had warned of an "imminent threat to life" in some areas, although several warnings have since been downgraded.
Dujuan, the 25th typhoon of the year to hit Japan, brought sustained winds of 130 km/h (80.8 mph) and gusts up to 194 km/h. Power outages affected more than 50,000 households, and hundreds of flights were canceled, with rail services also suspended. Authorities advised the public to monitor weather information closely.
While many areas saw warnings for heavy rain and landslides downgraded or lifted, level four warnings remained in effect for Shinagawa Ward, Toshima Village, and Niijima Village. The typhoon's arrival coincided with a five-day national holiday, leading to the cancellation of several events. The Rock in Japan music festival canceled its Monday concerts, and the Tokyo Game Show also called off its Monday program. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly postponed her trip to the United States this week to oversee the nation's response to the typhoon's impact. She had been scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and address the UN General Assembly in New York. The intensification of storms like Dujuan has been linked to a "super El Niño" phenomenon, which warms ocean waters and fuels storm formation.