Typhoon Dujuan kills at least four in Japan as landslides hit Tokyo region

Typhoon Dujuan has killed at least four people and injured 22 in Japan, authorities said on Tuesday. Rescuers were searching for missing people after landslides destroyed homes near Tokyo.

The storm was moving away from Japan after winds reached 144 km/h, allowing authorities to downgrade most heavy-rain and landslide warnings.

In Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, mud flowing into a home killed a woman in her 60s. Police and firefighters were also searching for a couple in their 70s.

Landslides strike Chiba prefecture

Local authorities said three people were killed in a series of landslides in Chiba prefecture. Two people believed to have been inside collapsed homes were missing, while 45,000 households remained without electricity on Tuesday morning.

Record rainfall disrupts travel

Oshima island recorded 832mm of rain over 48 hours, more than twice its average rainfall for the whole of September. Rainfall in Tokyo’s Edogawa ward reached a record 282.5mm in 24 hours.

Japan Airlines cancelled 135 flights and All Nippon Airways cancelled 140. More than 1.6 million people in and around Tokyo were urged to evacuate on Monday, although the evacuations were not mandatory.

The storm also disrupted some events at the Asian Games and forced the early closure of one of the world’s largest video game trade fairs in Tokyo.

Japan often experiences strong typhoons in late summer and early autumn. Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the risk from heavy rain because a warmer atmosphere can hold more water.