Tropical Cyclone Lan pushed its westward path across Japan on Wednesday, bringing heavy rains, landslides, damaged infrastructure, and leaving many communities isolated. The storm, the seventh typhoon of the Pacific season, has weakened to a severe tropical storm but continues a northward track over the Sea of Japan after making landfall in Wakayama Prefecture early Tuesday local time.
From yesterday onward, large portions of western Japan experienced rainfall surges, with totals well above the August average. In Tottori, rainfall reached a record level for the past 24 hours, underscoring the severity of the downpour across the region.
A woman in her eighties died of a heart attack in a city facing isolation as authorities race to reach residents in affected pockets. The challenging terrain and disrupted communication lines complicated rescue efforts.
The heavy rains caused structural damage in several cities, including Fukuchiyama in Kyoto Prefecture, where mud and sand clogged streets and cut off some communities. In Maizuru, the rising river overwhelmed portions of the city, and Ayabe reported significant landslides nearby.
transport disruption
Key shinkansen lines, the high-speed bullet trains, were suspended to and from Tokyo as commuters returned from holiday travel across Asia, with some areas still experiencing heavy rainfall preventing normal service.
The railway operator JR asked travelers to consider alternative routes as the day progressed, with rail services not expected to resume quickly in all affected zones.
Roads and highways faced closures across multiple prefectures, including Gifu and Osaka. About twenty additional flights were canceled as weather conditions persisted, according to the latest official updates.
Lan’s arrival coincided with the Obon festival, a period traditionally marked by family reunions and remembrance of ancestors. This year, the event unfolded amid ongoing public health concerns and shifting travel patterns as people resume domestic trips.
The season has already seen Lan follow Khanun, a typhoon that struck the southwestern archipelago and the nearby Korean peninsula in recent weeks, leaving behind widespread flooding, property damage, and casualties. The two storms serve as stark reminders of the risk posed by extreme rainfall and storm surge during the summer months in Japan.