Typhoon Dujuan kills 6, six missing in Japan's Kanto region
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Typhoon Dujuan has left at least six people dead and six others missing after battering Japan's Kanto region with record-breaking rainfall on Monday, 22 September 2026, triggering widespread landslides and flooding across Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Izu Islands. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with police and firefighters combing affected areas for survivors.
Casualties and Where They Occurred
Of the six confirmed deaths, five were in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. Among them, a man in his 50s died after falling into a bamboo grove while operating heavy machinery to clear mud and debris from a landslide site. The remaining victims in Chiba were reportedly in their 70s and 80s, according to local media reports. A sixth death was confirmed in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, where a woman in her 60s died on Monday after a landslide struck her home and sent mud pouring inside.
Record Rainfall and Landslide Warnings
The typhoon brought unprecedented precipitation to the region. In Oshima Town in the Izu Island chain, rainfall over the 48 hours to 8 pm local time on Monday reached 832 mm — more than 2.4 times the town's average rainfall for the entire month of September and the highest since records began, according to public broadcaster NHK. A top-level landslide warning was temporarily issued for the town. River flooding and multiple landslides were also reported across the broader Kanto region.
Power Outages and Infrastructure Disruption
The storm, which arrived during Japan's Silver Week national holiday period, compounded disruption for residents. In Chiba, intense rainfall inundated houses and roads, temporarily cutting electricity to approximately 58,000 households in the early hours of Tuesday, according to reports. The timing during a major holiday week amplified the impact, as many residents were travelling or away from home.
Flight Cancellations Affect 40,000 Travellers
The typhoon severely disrupted air travel across the country. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) together cancelled more than 270 flights, primarily services to and from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, affecting approximately 40,000 passengers in total. Typhoon Dujuan, which had approached Japan's eastern Pacific coast on Monday, is now reported to be moving away from the region.
Rescue Operations Continue
Police and firefighters are continuing search operations for the six people still missing across affected areas. The combination of ongoing landslide risk and flooded roads has complicated rescue efforts. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable zones to remain vigilant as ground conditions stay unstable following the extreme saturation of the soil. The full extent of damage to homes and infrastructure is still being assessed.