Typhoon No. 6 brought record-breaking rainfall and severe flooding to the Pacific side of Japan on June 3 [1, 2].
The storm's rapid onset caused immediate infrastructure failure and dangerous driving conditions in high-density urban areas. This event highlights the vulnerability of Japan's coastal cities to sudden, intense precipitation that can overwhelm drainage systems in minutes.
Heavy rains hit the Pacific coast of the Japanese archipelago, with particularly severe impacts reported in Kawasaki City, Tokyo, and eastern Kanagawa Prefecture [2]. In Tokyo, the volume of rainfall exceeded the typical total for the entire month of June [2]. The intensity of the storm led to widespread power outages, landslides, and significant urban flooding [1, 2].
On-scene footage captured the speed of the disaster, showing roads becoming submerged in just 20 minutes [1]. The rapid rise of water trapped vehicles and turned city streets into rivers, leaving cars submerged as water levels rose faster than drivers could react [1].
One driver captured the chaos on video, saying, "Is this actually happening? Wait, this is bad" [1]. As the water surged around the vehicle, the driver said, "It's like a river" [1]. Attempting to navigate the flood, the driver said, "Let me try to turn. This is bad, this is bad" [1].
The storm's characteristics shifted late in the day. Typhoon No. 6 transitioned into an extratropical cyclone at 9 p.m. on June 3 [1]. Despite this change in classification, the preceding torrential rains had already triggered the majority of the damage across the region [1, 2].
“"It's like a river"”
The speed at which urban areas like Kawasaki and Tokyo flooded suggests that existing stormwater infrastructure may be insufficient for the increasing intensity of modern typhoon events. When a month's worth of rain falls in a single day, the resulting 'flash' flooding creates lethal conditions for commuters and puts extreme pressure on emergency response services.
