Tropical storm Jangmi batters Japan, cuts power to 60,000 homes

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A severe tropical storm battered Japan this week, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting transport and injuring dozens of people before weakening and moving eastward. Tropical storm Jangmi, which had been downgraded from a typhoon, brought fierce winds and torrential rain as it tracked northward from Okinawa across the Japanese mainland, according to reports from Dawn, The Guardian, the South China Morning Post, and The Hindu.

Coverage comparison

The storm's impact was widely covered across several outlets, with varying details on injuries, power outages, and evacuation advisories. Dawn reported that the storm "ripped across Japan" on Wednesday, cutting power to nearly 60,000 households and causing at least 15 minor injuries. The South China Morning Post said the typhoon "ripped through" western and eastern Japan, making landfall in Wakayama Prefecture, and noted "dozens of people" were injured. The Hindu reported the storm "battered" southwestern Japan on Tuesday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and injuring nine people. The Guardian's coverage included a forecast article before the storm's arrival and a later summary of its impact, noting that 23 people had been injured and 1.52 million people were advised to evacuate.

While the exact number of injuries differs across reports—15, nine, 23, or "dozens"—the overall picture is consistent: the storm caused significant disruption and injury across multiple prefectures. The varying figures reflect different reporting times and regions, as authorities updated injury counts as the storm progressed.

Key claims

The storm's formation and path were detailed by The Guardian, which reported that Typhoon Jangmi, also known as Typhoon No. 6, formed within the monsoonal gyre over the Philippine Sea. It was forecast to track near Okinawa on Monday before moving toward the southeast of the country, with residents advised to take precautions against strong winds and heavy rain. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast the pressure could fall to about 965 hectopascals, with maximum winds increasing to 70 mph.

Making landfall in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture around 4:30 am on Wednesday, the storm passed near Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures over the preceding two days, according to the South China Morning Post. The storm caused flooding and mudslides, and at one point the weather agency issued its highest level 5 flood warning for the Koza River in Wakayama Prefecture, which was later downgraded after the river began overflowing its banks.

The Hindu reported that the entire population of Miyazaki city, around 390,000 people, was urged to evacuate as the storm approached. The Guardian noted that 1.52 million people were advised to evacuate by Wednesday, and that the typhoon damaged 57 homes across the country.

Transport was severely disrupted. The Hindu reported that Japan's two biggest airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, cancelled a combined 600 flights from Monday through Wednesday. The South China Morning Post noted that some bullet train services in Kyushu and western Japan were delayed, and East Japan Railway suspended some services in the Tokyo area. Toyota Motor suspended operations at 13 factories, according to The Guardian's report.

Power outages were widespread. Dawn reported that nearly 60,000 households lost power, while The Hindu specified that 17,000 households on Okinawa and more than 30,000 in the Kagoshima region experienced outages on Tuesday morning. The Guardian also noted 60,000 homes losing electricity.

The storm weakened into a tropical depression by Wednesday and moved eastward, away from the islands, according to The Guardian. The typhoon also damaged the exterior wall of Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in western Japan, with maximum recorded wind speeds of 56 mph at that location.

While most reports focused on Japan, The Guardian also noted that similar weather conditions were expected across parts of southern Australia early in the week, as a low-pressure system swept eastward from Western Australia to Victoria.

Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara, also Chief Cabinet Secretary, urged residents to take early action to protect their lives, saying, "If you sense any danger, please do not hesitate to take early action to protect your lives." He also warned that public transport in Tokyo and nearby cities could face disruptions as the storm approached.