Japan orders evacuation of over 1 million as Tropical Storm Mekkhala strikes Japan and Taiwan

More than one million residents in Japan were urged to leave their homes as Tropical Storm Mekkhala approached the archipelago, bringing wind speeds of up to 108 km/h and torrential rain. The storm is expected to affect the islands of Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu, including major cities such as Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo, and may interact with Tropical Storm Higos in the Pacific.

In Taiwan, heavy rains from Mekkhala caused floods and landslides that killed two women – a 73‑year‑old swept away by a torrent in Kaohsiung and a 49‑year‑old found dead in a submerged vehicle in Hsinchu County – while a 65‑year‑old man remains missing. Over 1,600 people were forced to evacuate, schools were closed and rail services suspended.

Japan reported four injuries, widespread flooding of dozens of buildings, the cancellation of more than 200 flights, dozens of train services halted and the closure of several highways. Toyota temporarily stopped work at a plant in Kyushu. Authorities warned of further landslide and flood risks as the storm moves inland.