TOKYO, JAPAN / RankWire.AI / – Eastern Japan experienced record-breaking precipitation and fierce winds on Monday as Typhoon Dujuan made landfall, prompting widespread landslide alerts and significant disruptions to transportation. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 5 landslide warning for Oshima in the Izu Islands at 12:40 p.m. Already, the storm had caused rainfall totals exceeding 500 millimeters across parts of the island chain. Chiba Prefecture reported more than 300 millimeters of rain from Saturday through early Monday afternoon. Authorities advised residents to stay alert for flooding, overflowing rivers, and hazardous waves.
At midday, the powerful and sizable typhoon was moving north-northeast over waters west of Hachijojima, maintaining a storm-force wind zone as it headed toward the Izu Islands and the Kanto region. Meteorologists stated that the system was expected to accelerate and pass near Kanto later Monday. Warnings included violent winds, rough seas, and additional heavy rainfall across eastern Pacific coastal areas. Linear rain bands could also enhance rainfall across Tokai, Kanto, and the Izu Islands.
By 2 p.m., the transport ministry had documented three landslides in Chiba Prefecture, destroying one home and partially damaging another. In Miyazaki Prefecture, two additional landslides were recorded, resulting in one death, one injury, and damage to one residence. Rainfall thresholds led to the closure of 32 sections of six expressways and three sections of two national roads. Flooded roads and fallen trees caused the shutdown of 16 prefectural road segments across Ibaraki, Saitama, and Chiba.
Heavy Rainfall Increases Flood and Landslide Threats
Air travel faced widespread cancellations, with the Ministry’s 11 a.m. update reporting the cancellation of 384 flights scheduled for Monday. Japan Airlines canceled 135 flights, ANA canceled 139, and other carriers canceled 110. Most cancellations affected airports in the Kanto region. At that time, airport authorities had not reported any damage to facilities that would hinder flight operations. The Tokyo Game Show’s final day in Chiba was also called off due to the typhoon.
Rail services were suspended on 16 conventional lines operated by eight different companies by 1:45 p.m., with one operator planning to suspend an additional 12 lines. No Shinkansen services had been affected at that point. Additionally, Maritime operators halted 36 routes, mainly serving the Kanto and Kyushu regions. Highway bus companies suspended 62 routes, primarily in Chiba and Nagano. Local bus services also paused 26 routes, mostly in Tokyo and Chiba, while some services operated with partial suspensions.
Transportation Systems Encounter Extensive Disruption
As rainfall accumulated along the typhoon’s projected path, flood control efforts intensified. Thirteen dams reached thresholds requiring pre-release measures, and three carried out preliminary water releases. Nine dams were actively managing flood control operations, with two still doing so at noon. By that time, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism had not received any reports of river flooding. Emergency personnel dispatched pumps and lighting vehicles to Chiba to aid drainage and nighttime operations.
The meteorological agency issued warnings for storm-level rainfall across Tokai, Kanto-Koshin, the Izu Islands, and Tohoku through Monday. Predicted totals until noon Tuesday were 250 millimeters for Kanto, Tokai, and the Izu Islands, and 150 millimeters for Tohoku. Officials urged heightened vigilance for landslides, flooding, rising rivers, strong winds, and large waves. The official forecast indicated the typhoon would be near Kanto on Monday night as it moved northeast at an accelerated pace. Local authorities continued to issue warnings and evacuation advisories as weather conditions evolved.