Death toll from typhoon rises to 10, with 4 still missing

The death toll from Typhoon Dujuan has reached 10, with four individuals still missing, as of Wednesday, according to local authorities in Japan. The typhoon struck eastern Japan earlier this week, bringing heavy rain and flooding to a wide area, particularly impacting Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.

Among the 10 victims, seven fatalities were reported in Chiba and three in Kanagawa, situated southwest of the capital city, Tokyo. The typhoon coincided with the Silver Week holidays, which lasted until Wednesday, causing significant disruption and havoc.

Chiba, which had already experienced heavy rain and flooding in August and early September, was especially hard hit by the typhoon. Dikes were breached in two locations at Lake Imbanuma in northern Chiba, after the water levels rose to unprecedented levels. Each breach measured around 100 meters wide. The lake is connected to the Tone River.

Authorities are working to pump out the excess water to lower the water levels in the lake. However, an official revealed that the greater-than-anticipated rainfall overwhelmed the pumping of river water to Tokyo Bay that had been ongoing since Sunday.

Notably, no dike breaches had been recorded at Lake Imbanuma since modern water management practices began in 1968, according to a government agency. The search for the remaining four missing persons continues in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.