Typhoon "Dujuan" Claims Two Lives in Japan – Tokyo Remains a Further Risk Zone

Situation in the Prefectures

On Thursday, sunny weather returned across large parts of the greater Tokyo area. However, authorities see no all-clear: due to the persistent precipitation of previous days, the ground is so heavily saturated that even minor additional stress – such as further rain showers or tremors – could trigger new slope failures. NHK spoke of a persistently critical situation.

The Japanese weather agency urged the public to continue monitoring warnings in apps and on official sites closely. Residents were asked to avoid steep slopes, streambeds, and already marked exclusion zones. Volunteers also assisted in the clearance operations in the affected neighborhoods.

At the regional level, the prefectural administrations coordinated the deployment of excavators and clearance vehicles. Schools in the hardest-hit municipalities remained closed as a precaution, and mobile warning signs pointed to the danger. Authorities emphasized that a final all-clear would only be possible after the ground had stabilized and geological inspections had been carried out.

Weather Agency Warns of Further Instability

The economic consequences remain limited according to initial estimates, as larger industrial facilities and the central infrastructure of the greater Tokyo area were not directly affected. However, insurers expect a rising number of claims from private households, particularly due to water ingress and undermined foundations.

Experts point out that the Tokyo region has been repeatedly hit by strong typhoons and so-called "linear precipitation bands" in recent years. The combination of dense building development, steep slopes, and increasingly extreme weather events increases the risk of such disasters. Urban planners are therefore calling for greater investment in slope stabilization and early warning systems.

In Kanagawa Prefecture, where several landslides had occurred according to NHK, cleanup operations were still in full swing on Thursday. Residents reported that entire gardens and access roads were covered in mud and debris. The situation continues to be monitored closely, the crisis management team said.

East Coast and Power Supply

Along Japan's east coast as well, where "Dujuan" continued moving northward after landfall, flooding and power outages occurred. Several tens of thousands of households were temporarily without electricity, and energy providers worked at full speed to restore the grids. No injuries have been reported in this region so far.

The meteorological situation remains tense: although "Dujuan" is gradually moving away from the Japanese mainland, new rain fronts are already located over the Pacific according to the weather agency and could bring further precipitation to the Tokyo region in the coming days. Authorities announced that warning levels would be adjusted depending on developments.

The national disaster management agency set up a central hotline for affected citizens. At the same time, the Ministry of the Interior published updated behavioral guidance, including recommendations on evacuation, stockpiling drinking water, and securing important documents.

Political and Social Response

Overall, the course of Typhoon "Dujuan" illustrates the growing vulnerability of densely populated metropolitan regions to extreme weather events. Observers see the recent events as a further reason to strengthen adaptation strategies to climate change at the municipal and national levels.