Typhoon Dujuan slammed into Japan’s eastern coast on Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring 22 as the storm unleashed violent winds and torrential rain.

Winds, rain and power cuts

The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded sustained winds of 144 km/h (89 mph) as Dujuan passed close to the Kanto region, bringing down trees and snapping power lines. Tens of thousands of households, particularly around Tokyo and Chiba, were left without electricity, prompting utility crews to work through the night.

“The intensity of the wind has caused widespread disruption across the capital’s outskirts,” a JMA spokesperson said.

typhoon clouds over Tokyo Bay with lightning

Landslides and rescue efforts

Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in the mountainous areas of Chiba prefecture, crushing homes and trapping residents. Search teams from the Self‑Defence Forces and local fire services combed through debris, while volunteers set up temporary shelters for displaced families.

One collapsed house in the town of Kisarazu left three people missing, and rescuers are using drones to map the affected zones.

collapsed home with rescue workers in Chiba prefecture

Government response

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida activated emergency protocols, ordering prefectural governors to open additional evacuation centres and to mobilise the Japan Coast Guard for potential flood rescues. The Cabinet Office urged residents to stay indoors, avoid travel on coastal roads and heed early‑warning alerts sent via mobile phones.

Rail operators halted services on several lines, and major airports postponed flights as the typhoon’s eye moved inland.

Wider context

Japan faces an average of 25 typhoons each year, but Dujuan is the strongest to hit the Kanto region since Typhoon Hagibis in 2024, which caused over 80 deaths nationwide. Climate scientists note a gradual increase in storm intensity across the western Pacific, attributing the trend to warmer sea surface temperatures.

Authorities expect Dujuan to weaken as it tracks northward toward the Pacific, with the JMA forecasting a downgrade to a severe tropical storm by Wednesday. Recovery crews will remain on standby to restore power and clear debris, while officials stress that the situation remains fluid and that further landslides are possible in the coming days.