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.
