Japan typhoon landslides kill 2, leave 4 missing near Tokyo
Synopsis
Typhoon Dujuan dumped a record 832 mm of rain on Oshima Town in 48 hours — more than double September's monthly average — triggering fatal landslides near Tokyo that killed two and left four missing. As Japan's ground stays saturated, authorities warn the danger is not over yet.
Key Takeaways
Two people died in typhoon-triggered landslides in Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures on Monday, 22 September .
Four people remain missing; police and firefighters are continuing search operations.
Rainfall at Oshima Town, Izu Islands reached 832 mm over 48 hours — the highest on record and more than 2.4 times the town's average for all of September.
Typhoon Dujuan has moved away from Japan's eastern Pacific coast but saturated ground keeps landslide risk elevated.
Earlier in August , Typhoon Chan-hom injured seven people across Iwate, Ibaraki, and Tochigi prefectures.
Two people have died and four others remain missing after landslides struck Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures near Tokyo on Monday, 22 September, following torrential rainfall unleashed by Typhoon Dujuan. Search operations by police and firefighters were ongoing as of Tuesday.
How the deaths occurred
In Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, a woman in her 60s died after a landslide sent mud surging into her home. Separately, in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture, a man in his 50s who was clearing mud and debris with heavy machinery was killed after falling into a bamboo grove along with the equipment he was operating, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Record rainfall batters Kanto region
Typhoon Dujuan approached Japan's eastern Pacific coast on Monday before moving away, but not before dumping record amounts of rain across the Kanto region and the Izu Islands. Rainfall at Oshima Town in the Izu Island chain reached 832 mm over the 48 hours to 8 pm local time on Monday — more than 2.4 times the town's average rainfall for the entire month of September and the highest on record since data collection began, according to NHK. A top-level emergency landslide warning was temporarily issued for the town.
Authorities urge continued vigilance
Although sunny conditions are forecast across much of Japan on Tuesday, weather authorities have urged residents to remain alert to the continued risk of landslides, as saturated and unstable ground persists across affected areas. Police and firefighters are pressing on with the search for the four missing individuals.
Pattern of typhoon damage in 2026
This is not an isolated event. Earlier in August, Typhoon Chan-hom made landfall in Ibaraki Prefecture in eastern Japan, leaving seven people with minor injuries across Iwate, Ibaraki, and Tochigi prefectures, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The back-to-back typhoon events highlight the growing intensity and frequency of storm-related disasters along Japan's Pacific coastline. With the search for missing persons still active, the full toll of Typhoon Dujuan's passage remains uncertain.
Point of View
Yet it is precisely what drives secondary disasters like landslides long after a storm passes. Japan's well-drilled emergency response minimised casualties relative to the scale of the event, but the two-typhoon sequence in barely six weeks raises questions about whether local infrastructure and early-warning systems are being stress-tested beyond their design thresholds. With four people still missing and ground saturation persisting, the story is not over when the sun comes out.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Japan typhoon landslides?
Two people died in landslides triggered by Typhoon Dujuan in Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures near Tokyo on Monday, 22 September. Four others remain missing as search operations continue.
Where exactly did the landslides occur in Japan?
One landslide struck Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture, killing a woman in her 60s when mud entered her home. A second incident occurred in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture, where a man in his 50s died while clearing debris with heavy machinery.
How much rainfall did Typhoon Dujuan bring to Japan?
Oshima Town in the Izu Islands recorded 832 mm of rainfall over 48 hours ending at 8 pm on Monday — the highest on record and more than 2.4 times the town's entire monthly average for September. A top-level emergency landslide warning was issued for the town.
Is the landslide danger in Japan over after Typhoon Dujuan moved away?
Not entirely. Weather authorities have urged continued vigilance because the ground across affected areas remains heavily saturated and unstable, keeping landslide risk elevated despite forecast sunny weather on Tuesday.
Has Japan seen other typhoon damage in 2026?
Yes. Earlier in August, Typhoon Chan-hom made landfall in Ibaraki Prefecture, injuring seven people across Iwate, Ibaraki, and Tochigi prefectures, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
