Japan braces for heavy rain, strong winds as typhoon nears eastern coast

A large typhoon was moving towards eastern Japan’s Pacific coast Monday, with the weather agency issuing a top-level warning for landslides in the northern part of the Izu island chain.

Typhoon Dujuan was projected to pass near the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, from the evening to late Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Downpours could also occur in the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, as well as the Tokai region in central Japan.

Bullet train services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, could see delays and cancellations in the afternoon, JR Central said.

The year’s 25th typhoon has already disrupted transportation, forcing the closure of parts of highways in the middle of a five-day holiday period.

The typhoon, located about 80 kilometres west of Hachijo Island, was moving north-northeast at a speed of 25 kilometres per hour as of noon (10am Thailand time). It had an atmospheric pressure of 960 hectopascals at its centre, with maximum gusts of 198 kph, according to the agency’s website.

The agency issued a Level 5 emergency warning for landslides on Izu Oshima, the largest island of the Izu chain that is located about 100km from the capital. It warned of an imminent danger in the affected area.

The agency forecast up to 250 millimetres of rain in the Tokai and Kanto regions as well as the Izu island chain, and 150mm in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan in the 24 hours through noon Tuesday.