Typhoon approaches eastern Japan, prompting flood and landslide warnings

On Monday, a strong typhoon, dubbed Dujuan, is set to approach Japan's eastern coast, bringing with it torrential rainfall, fierce winds, and a heightened risk of landslides in the Kanto region and other parts of eastern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The agency warned that conditions could deteriorate rapidly as the typhoon is expected to pass near Tokyo later in the day.

Already, heavy rain has soaked parts of the Izu Islands, Chiba Prefecture, and other Pacific coastal regions, with some spots receiving over 300 mm (12 inches) of precipitation since Saturday. The JMA expects downpours to intensify from Monday afternoon as the typhoon heads towards the Kanto region, which comprises Tokyo and surrounding prefectures.

At the Asian Games taking place in central Japan's Aichi Prefecture, the equestrian eventing competition has been postponed until Tuesday due to the approaching typhoon. Authorities have cautioned that linear rain bands could form over the Kanto and central regions, dramatically increasing the risk of flash floods and other rain-related disasters. These linear bands, which have become a growing concern in recent years, can unleash massive amounts of rain over a narrow area for several hours.

Typhoon Dujuan arrives amidst a year of extreme weather events worldwide, with unusually intense rainfall, flooding, and tropical cyclones impacting regions from East Asia to North America and Europe.