Typhoon Jangmi weakens after evacuations, injuries and flooding risk across Japan
Typhoon Jangmi has weakened into a tropical depression after moving eastwards away from Japan, following days of heavy rain, strong winds and disruption across a wide area. The storm, also known as Typhoon No 6, affected regions from Okinawa to mainland Japan. Authorities had advised more than 1 million people to evacuate as the system brought flooding risk, landslide warnings and power cuts.
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By Wednesday, 23 people had been injured, including 17 in Okinawa, according to the latest confirmed figures. The storm damaged 57 homes and left 60,000 homes without electricity. Sustained wind speeds of 80mph, or 130kph, were recorded on Monday, while three-hour rainfall totals in Chiyoda, Tokyo, reached 105mm on Wednesday, a record for the month.
Officials also issued level 4 warnings for some rivers, indicating a risk of overflowing and a point at which municipalities can order evacuations. The heavy rain led to flooding concerns and landslide warnings, adding to disruption for businesses, transport and infrastructure. The exterior wall of Himeji Castle, a Unesco world heritage site in western Japan, was also damaged, with the Japan Meteorological Agency recording maximum wind speeds there of 56mph.
The scale of the warnings underlines the wider challenge Japan faces from intense seasonal storms, particularly when heavy rain combines with strong winds and saturated ground. River flood alerts and evacuation advice are designed to reduce the risk of casualties, but they also show how quickly a typhoon can affect large populations across multiple prefectures. Damage to homes, electricity networks and a major heritage site also points to the economic and cultural cost of such storms.
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Typhoon Jangmi's path from Okinawa northwards across the country brought it into contact with densely populated areas and critical infrastructure. The storm's impact on Tokyo, where rainfall set a monthly record, shows that even as a system weakens it can still leave significant disruption behind. The damage at Himeji Castle also highlights how severe weather can affect nationally important landmarks as well as residential areas.
What remains unclear is whether any further injuries or damage will be confirmed as assessments continue. It is also not yet clear how long repairs to homes, power supplies and the castle wall will take. The main thing to watch now is whether any residual rain from the weakened system causes further flooding or landslide problems as it moves away from the islands.
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