Typhoon Dujuan Forces 1.6 Million to Evacuate Near Tokyo, Paralyzes Transport

Typhoon Dujuan hit the greater Tokyo area of Japan on September 21, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for some 1.6 million residents. Officials warned of record-breaking rainfall and the risk of landslides and coastal flooding, as roads near the coast were already submerged.

Evacuations and transport disruptions

The scale of the evacuation order — one of the largest in the Tokyo region in recent years — reflected the typhoon's intensity. Rail services across the metropolitan area were suspended or significantly curtailed, leaving millions of commuters stranded. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, and highways were closed in the worst-affected zones.

Storm warnings

Meteorological agencies warned that Dujuan could bring the heaviest single-day rainfall on record for some parts of the Kanto region. Disaster management authorities deployed emergency teams and pre-positioned relief supplies ahead of the storm's peak impact.

Context

Japan regularly faces powerful typhoons during the late summer and autumn season. Dujuan's path through the densely populated Tokyo metropolitan area, home to over 35 million people, made it one of the highest-risk weather events of 2026 for Japan.