Japan braces for record rain as powerful typhoon nears east coast
Typhoon Dujuan has already disrupted transportation and forced the closure of tourist hotspots.
Japan prepares for record rainfall as powerful typhoon approaches the east coast
A powerful typhoon moving toward Japan’s eastern coast has disrupted transport and forced the closure of several tourist attractions.
Typhoon Dujuan, with sustained winds of 126km/h and gusts reaching 180km/h, is expected to pass near the Boso Peninsula in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo on Monday.
All Nippon Airways has cancelled flights to and from Hachijo Island south of Tokyo, where heavy rain and strong winds are being felt. JR East, a major rail operator, has suspended some services in Chiba, which is home to Narita Airport.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned that Dujuan could bring record rainfall through Tuesday and urged people in coastal areas to remain alert for landslides.
The agency said rainfall could reach as much as 350mm in the Tokai region, 300mm in the Kanto and Izu Islands, and 200mm in Tohoku.
It also warned that the typhoon could trigger severe flooding in low-lying areas.
Dujuan, Japan’s 25th typhoon of the year, has struck during a five-day holiday and led to the cancellation of several events.
Concerts planned for Monday at the Rock in Japan music festival have been cancelled, while the Tokyo Game Show, a video game convention, has also called off Monday’s programme.
Organisers of the Asian Games, which are taking place in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture and in the city of Nagoya, said typhoon-related concerns discouraged people from attending the games’ opening ceremony on Sunday.
Parts of the 30,000-seat stadium were visibly empty during the ceremony.