Heavy rains lash Tokyo and surrounding prefectures
The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to be on high alert for landslides, rising river levels and floods in some low-lying areas.
Heavy rains struck Tokyo and neighboring prefectures on Monday, disrupting daily life and prompting emergency measures. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a level 5 landslide warning for Niijima island, located about 160 kilometers south of Tokyo, marking the highest alert level on their scale. Similar warnings were issued for Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, with the agency urging residents to stay vigilant for potential landslides, rising river levels, and flooding in low-lying areas.
The storm brought intense rainfall to the Kanto region, with hourly rates exceeding 50 millimeters in some spots. Forecasters expect the 24-hour rainfall through Monday night to surpass 300 millimeters in the Tokai region, 250 millimeters in the Kanto-Koshin area, and up to 200 millimeters in Tohoku, Kinki, and the Izu Islands. Schools in Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures canceled classes due to the severe weather.
Public transportation was also affected, with JR East's Yamanote Line, Chuo Line, Sobu Line, and Tokaido Line operating with 20% to 30% fewer trains on Monday.
The storm is projected to move north, with Tropical Storm Krovanh expected to bring warm, moist air toward the front. As of Monday morning, Krovanh was positioned 50 kilometers north-northeast of Minamidaito Island in Okinawa Prefecture, moving north-northeast over the ocean.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
