Storm Jangmi batters Japan: Heavy rain, strong winds causes widespread disruption, leaves 60,000 houses without power

Tropical storm Jangmi battered Japan on Wednesday with heavy rain and strong winds, causing widespread disruption and extensive property damage. The storm left nearly 60,000 households without power as authorities warned of worsening weather conditions.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its highest level-5 flood alerts across parts of central and eastern Japan, urging residents living near rivers and in low-lying areas to move to higher ground as rainfall intensified. The agency also warned of rising floodwaters in the greater Tokyo region.

Authorities issued evacuation advisories and cautioned against life-threatening flooding and landslides as the storm swept across the country. Transport services and businesses were severely affected, with hundreds of flights grounded and significant disruptions reported across multiple regions.

The storm dumped 50 centimetres (20 inches) of rain in the past 24 hours in the Owase area in central Japan. Up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) was expected through Thursday morning in some areas, including Tokyo, JMA said.


Jangmi made landfall in Wakayama prefecture at typhoon strength with 126 kph (78 mph) winds before moving inland and weakening significantly.


Visuals show heavy rain and strong winds from Tropical Storm Jangmi flooding roads, uprooting trees and disrupting transport across parts of Japan.

Source: NHK World-Japan/X (@NHKWORLD_News)



900+ Flights, Multiple Trains & 18 Plants Halted by Japan Storm

At least 17,000 households on the Honshu island alone were left without power, while the authorities said power for more than 60,000 houses across Japan were cut as precaution to the storm.

More than 800,000 people were evacuated in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures on the southern main island of Kyushu, the Japanese government said.


Nearly 900 international and domestic flights were cancelled including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

Bullet train services in ‌Kyushu, in the southwest, and areas of western Japan were delayed, while East Japan Railway also said that some rail services in the ⁠Tokyo area were suspended and more could be affected over the course of the day.

Toyota Motor said on Tuesday that it would suspend operations at 13 domestic plants on Wednesday morning, in anticapting severe weather conditions. Suzuki Motor also suspended operations at all five plants in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo, in the morning.





Government calls for immediate caution

Japan government spokesperson Minoru Kihara urged citizens: "If you sense any danger, please do not hesitate to take early action to protect your lives."

Authorities issued evacuation advisories across southwestern, central and eastern Japan, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents in eight prefectures.

The UK government issued a travel advisory for British nationals in Japan, urging them to stay informed through official weather updates and heed evacuation and safety instructions from local authorities.


UK government on social media X said "Heavy rain associated with Typhoon 6 (Jangmi) is affecting many parts of Japan, with flood and landslide risks in some areas. We encourage everyone to follow local advice and check the latest updates from official sources."

Catch all LIVE updates on the US-Iran conflict here.