Typhoon Mekkhala triggers flooding in Taiwan and evacuation orders for 2.2 million in Japan

Typhoon Mekkhala has brought torrential rain and flooding to Taiwan while prompting large-scale evacuation orders in Japan as the storm moves toward the Ryukyu Islands in the south of the country. The system was described as a tropical storm at the time of the report, but it has already caused significant disruption across both territories. In Taiwan, heavy rain has affected parts of the island, while in Japan authorities have warned of flooding, landslides and river overflows.

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Japanese authorities ordered the evacuation of 2.2 million people from risk areas and issued alerts for flooding and landslides on Friday. More than 200 flights were canceled, dozens of rail services were suspended and several roads were closed, according to the Ministry of Land. The Japanese meteorological agency said a stationary front fed by warm, moist air was intensifying rainfall, especially in western regions of the country.

The storm also brought strong winds and heavy rain to southern and western Japan. In Taiwan, the storm disrupted work and school for about 6 million people, with local governments in three affected regions ordering public offices and schools to close on Friday. Severe flooding in Tainan interrupted a section of the main railway line linking the north and south of the island.

In Hsinchu, in the north of Taiwan and home to the headquarters of TSMC, offices and schools closed at midday. TSMC said it had taken preventive measures at its facilities and that its factories were continuing to operate normally. The scale of the disruption highlights how a single storm system can affect transport, industry and public services across a wide area in East Asia.

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Taiwan and Japan are both accustomed to seasonal storms, but the combination of flooding, evacuation orders and transport cancellations shows the immediate pressure on local authorities. The impact on rail links, roads and airports also raises the risk of wider economic disruption if the weather persists. For Taiwan, the interruption of the north-south rail corridor is especially significant because it is a key transport route.

The storm passed along Taiwan's coast before moving toward the Ryukyu Islands, placing Japan's southern regions in its path. In Taiwan, the heaviest rain was reported in Kaohsiung, Tainan and Pingtung, while in Japan the worst conditions were expected in western areas. The report also noted that around 6 million people live in the areas affected by the work and school closures in Taiwan, underlining the broad social impact of the weather emergency.

The situation comes as authorities in both places continue to monitor the storm's movement and the risk of further rainfall. What remains unclear is how long the heavy rain will continue and whether the storm will strengthen or weaken as it approaches Japan. It is also not yet clear how many people will ultimately use the evacuation orders or whether additional transport and factory closures will be needed.

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