Millions urged to evacuate as powerful Typhoon Dujuan hits Japan

Almost two million residents across Japan are under evacuation orders as Typhoon Dujuan, the nation’s 25th typhoon of the year, lashes the country’s Pacific coast. The storm, with sustained winds of 130 km/h (80.8 mph) and gusts reaching 194 km/h, prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue an “imminent threat to life” warning, which remains in force only for Oshima Town after most alerts were downgraded. Power outages affected more than 50,000 households, hundreds of flights were cancelled, and rail services were suspended. In the disaster’s wake, emergency services reported a woman in her 60s possibly swept away and buried alive in Yokosuka, a man in his 50s rescued after a landslide trapped him with heavy machinery in Chiba, and a homeowner in Kanagawa whose house was crushed by a landslide. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi postponed her scheduled trip to the United States to monitor the storm’s impact, and major events such as the Rock in Japan music festival and the Tokyo Game Show cancelled Monday’s programmes.

The typhoon’s ferocity is linked to the ongoing “super El Niño,” which has warmed Pacific Ocean waters and intensified storm formation. While climate change is not believed to increase the total number of typhoons globally, rising sea‑surface temperatures allow storms that do develop to draw more energy, producing stronger winds and heavier rainfall. Research indicates that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, amplifying precipitation, and that El Niño can shift typhoon tracks, potentially exposing Japan to more powerful systems. Level‑three warnings for heavy rain and level‑four warnings for landslides have been largely lifted, though they persist in Shinagawa Ward, Toshima Village and Niijima Village, underscoring localized risk despite broader downgrades.

As Dujuan continues northward along the coast, authorities are urging the public to stay alert to weather updates while damage assessments remain incomplete. The extent of infrastructure loss, agricultural impact and longer‑term economic effects will likely become clearer after Tuesday’s evaluations. The storm’s disruption of high‑profile events and the prime minister’s delayed diplomatic engagement highlight its immediate societal impact, while the broader pattern of intensified storms under a warming climate points to heightened preparedness challenges for Japan in future seasons.

⚡ Effects Interpreter