Nearly two million people in Japan have been placed under evacuation orders as Typhoon Dujuan batters the nation’s Pacific coast. The storm has left two people dead, several others missing and caused widespread disruption to transport, power supplies and public events.
Human Toll and Emergency Response
NHK confirmed that two fatalities have been recorded, with four individuals still unaccounted for nationwide and a further four reported missing in Kanagawa prefecture. In Yokosuka, a woman in her sixties was initially feared to have been swept away and buried under debris; rescuers later located her inside her home and declared her dead. Meanwhile, in Sodegaura, Chiba, a man in his fifties became trapped while clearing a landslide, fell into a bamboo thicket with heavy machinery and was taken to hospital before succumbing to his injuries. Police are investigating both incidents. Firefighters in Kanagawa received a call from a resident whose house had been crushed by a landslide, highlighting the scale of the ground‑movement threat.
Travel and Infrastructure Disruption
The typhoon’s sustained winds reached 130 km/h, with gusts peaking at 194 km/h. More than 50,000 households lost electricity, while hundreds of flights were grounded and rail services suspended across the affected regions. Authorities warned of an imminent threat to life, although several weather alerts have since been downgraded. The storm is Japan’s 25th typhoon of the year and arrived during a five‑day holiday period, prompting the cancellation of concerts at the Rock in Japan music festival and the opening day of the Tokyo Game Show.
Political Reaction and International Engagements
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her condolences on X for those lost in the typhoon. She wrote, “With a sense of urgency, I instructed Chief Cabinet Secretary Takehara and Minister Hosono to respond with utmost preparedness,” before noting that she had already boarded a flight to the United States. Takaichi is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday and to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Climate Context and El Niño Influence
Scientists link Dujuan’s intensity to a strong El Niño episode, which has warmed tropical Pacific waters and supplied extra energy to developing storms. While research suggests that Japan is becoming more exposed to destructive cyclones, global trends show that climate change is not increasing the overall number of typhoons and may even reduce their frequency in some regions. Warmer seas enable storms to gather more strength, and a warmer atmosphere can hold additional moisture, leading to heavier rainfall when typhoons do form. El Niño itself does not alter the total count of typhoons but can shift their formation points, boost their strength and steer them toward certain countries, Japan included.
The system continues to track northward along Japan’s Pacific coastline, and officials caution that the full extent of the damage may not become clear until Tuesday. Additional reporting on the storm’s meteorological background was provided by Chie Kobayashi and climate correspondent Mark Poynting.
Why it Matters
Typhoon Dujuan underscores how a combination of powerful natural cycles and a warming climate can produce severe weather events that test national emergency systems, disrupt daily life and have ripple effects for international diplomacy. The storm’s impact on travel, power supplies and public safety highlights the need for resilient infrastructure and timely communication, while the political response illustrates how leaders balance domestic crises with global commitments. Understanding the role of El Niño in amplifying such storms helps policymakers anticipate future risks and adapt climate‑adaptation strategies accordingly.
