Tropical storm hits Tokyo area, leaving thousands without power before moving west

Tropical storm Chan-hom made landfall in the Tokyo region on Tuesday night, causing widespread disruption and damage. The storm left thousands of homes without electricity and knocked down trees, resulting in minor injuries to five people. Chan-hom, which had sustained winds of 64 kilometers per hour, was significantly weakened after making landfall in southern Ibaraki prefecture. It then moved westward, heading towards Wakasa Bay on Japan’s north-central coast.

Despite the storm's impact, commuter trains and flights in Tokyo were operating normally, and businesses were mostly unaffected. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents in northern and western Japan about heavy rain and thunder. As of Wednesday morning, more than 3,000 homes were still without power in Ibaraki and its neighboring Tochigi prefecture.

The storm affected many holiday travelers during Japan’s "bon" Buddhist holiday week, which honors the ancestral spirits. One tree fell in a posh shopping area in Tokyo, though no one was injured. In total, five people suffered minor injuries, two men in Iwate prefecture and three women in Ibaraki. The storm was preceded by typhoon Dolphin, which had wreaked havoc in southern Japan, causing traffic disruptions, hundreds of injuries, and forcing thousands to take shelter.

Dolphin later crossed into China, where it caused flooding and killed ten people, resulting in the relocation of hundreds of thousands of individuals.