Tropical Storm Jangmi lashed south-western Japan, injuring at least 15 people and prompting authorities to issue evacuation advisories for more than 800,000 residents across Kyushu and the Okinawa island chain. The storm brought torrential rain and strong winds that knocked down trees, disrupted transport and raised the threat of flooding and landslides in low-lying and hillside areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents in the path of the storm to take precautions and heed local evacuation guidance, warning that bands of intense rainfall could quickly saturate the ground. Advisories of the kind issued cover large populations as a precaution and do not require everyone to leave, but signal a heightened risk to life and property.
Injuries reported across the affected islands were mostly attributed to falling debris and slips during the high winds. Local authorities opened evacuation centres and prepared emergency crews as the system tracked across the region, while airlines and rail operators cancelled or delayed services.
Japan's south-west is regularly exposed to tropical storms and typhoons during the warmer months, and the early-season system was a reminder of the disruption such weather can bring. Okinawa, in particular, sits along common storm tracks and has well-rehearsed procedures for sheltering residents and protecting infrastructure.
Officials warned that the danger from rain could persist even after the strongest winds passed, as accumulated water works its way through rivers and slopes. Landslides in mountainous terrain can occur hours after the heaviest downpours, and residents were urged to remain cautious.
Forecasters monitored the storm's track for any further intensification or shift toward the main islands. Authorities said the priority was to keep people away from swollen rivers and unstable ground until the system had cleared the region.