Japan: Typhoon Dujuan sparks flood, landslide warnings

A powerful typhoon was nearing Japan's eastern coast on Monday, triggering warnings of floods and landslides and prompting hundreds of flights to be canceled.

Dujuan is forecast to pass close to the Tokyo metropolitan area later in the day.

What do we know about Typhoon Dujuan?

Typhoon Dujuan was packing winds at speeds of 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour as it lingered some 110 kilometres from Hachijojima, one of Tokyo's most remote islands.

Parts of the Izu Islands and the Chiba prefecture near Tokyo already saw heavy rainfall over the weekend.

The ⁠Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has cautioned that weather conditions could worsen rapidly.

"The total rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly rainfall for September, resulting in record-breaking heavy rain," the JMA said.

Authorities have also warned of a possibility of ⁠linear ​rain bands forming over central Japan and the Kanto region —  which includes Tokyo and surrounding prefectures — that could raise the risk of rain-related disasters like flash floods and landslides.

Linear ‌bands cause heavy torrential rainfall ​over a narrow area for several hours.

How have Japan's regions been affected by the incoming storm?

Over 4,000 households in Chiba were without power.

In the central prefecture of Aichi, which is currently hosting the Asian Games, an equestrian eventing competition was postponed until Tuesday.

The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's biggest video game trade fairs, was shut down ahead of its final day on Monday.

Dujuan could also scupper travel plans during Japan's "Silver Week" holiday, which has just begun and which normally sees a surge in domestic travel.

On Monday, Japan Airlines canceled 120 domestic and 15 international flights, while All Nippon Airways canceled 140 domestic flights.

Some railway services were suspended on some lines in Tokyo and its neighboring areas.

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Edited by: Karl Sexton

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