Typhoon 6 has triggered record-breaking rainfall and landslides across Kyushu, leaving vehicles stranded in floodwaters and damaging residential areas [1, 2, 3].
The storm's path threatens to bring similar volatility to the Kanto region, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, where officials warn of potential warning-level rainfall later this week [1, 3].
In Nagasaki, rainfall exceeded 500 millimeters over a three-day period [2]. Meanwhile, the town of Tano in Miyazaki Prefecture recorded more than 300 millimeters of rain within 24 hours, marking the highest June measurement in the history of local observations [2].
The deluge caused significant infrastructure failure and danger to residents. In Omuta City, rivers swelled into residential neighborhoods and flooded roads [1]. In Sasebo City, the heavy rains led to slope collapses and landslides [2].
Emergency workers and residents described the intensity of the weather. "It is raining more today. It was pouring and the sound was incredible," a worker said [1]. Another worker noted the ongoing danger to transit, saying, "It is still flooded, so I am stopping the car now" [1].
The storm has been active since early June, making its closest approach to the Okinawa region on June 1 and the Amami region on June 2 [4]. While some reports refer to the system as a "double typhoon" scenario, official records identify the system as Typhoon 6 [1, 4].
Forecasters expect the system to move northeast. Warning-level heavy rain is projected to hit the Kanto region this weekend, specifically between June 28 and June 29 [1, 3].
“"It is raining more today. It was pouring and the sound was incredible,"”
The transition of Typhoon 6 from the southern islands to the mainland highlights the vulnerability of Japan's infrastructure to extreme precipitation events. The record-breaking figures in Miyazaki and Nagasaki suggest an intensification of seasonal rain patterns, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides in densely populated areas like Tokyo as the storm moves north.
