Two Typhoons Make Landfall Simultaneously, Earthquake Risk Looms... Record 250mm Per Hour Downpour Hits Japan

Heavy Rain Nationwide Due to Mekkhala and Higos
One Missing in Landslide; Concerns Over Flooding and Inundation

Typhoon Mekkhala (No. 7) and Typhoon Higos (No. 8) are simultaneously approaching Japan, bringing heavy rainfall.

The Kamo River in Kyoto swollen due to heavy rain. Photo by Kyodo News.

According to reports from Kyodo News and NHK on June 27, Mekkhala is moving northeast toward the Pacific coasts of western and eastern Japan, while Higos, after moving out to sea east of Japan and weakening into an extratropical cyclone, is still expected to bring significant rainfall.

Japanese local media reported that this is the first time since related statistics began being compiled in 1951 that two typhoons have approached simultaneously in June, marking an unprecedented event in the history of meteorological observation in Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that, as of 9:00 a.m. on this day, Mekkhala was moving northward at 45 km/h approximately 140 km south-southeast of Cape Ashizuri in Kochi Prefecture. Its central pressure was 992 hectopascals (hPa), with a maximum wind speed near the center of 18 meters per second and a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 25 meters per second.

Due to the influx of hot and humid air from these two typhoons, a strong band of rain clouds has formed, especially along the Pacific coastal regions, leading to widespread downpours in the forecast.

As a result, damage from the heavy rain has been reported. According to Kyodo News, late last night in Hirao, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a landslide buried a house, leaving one resident missing and three people transported to the hospital.

By the morning of June 28, the 24-hour accumulated rainfall is expected to reach up to 250 mm in Shizuoka Prefecture, up to 200 mm in the Kanto and Koshin regions, and up to 150 mm in the Kinki region. In Susami, Wakayama Prefecture, a strong rain of 34 mm was recorded in one hour as of 8:00 a.m. on this day.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged the public to exercise particular caution against the risks of landslides, river flooding, and flooding in low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, regarding the earthquake near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, where a maximum seismic intensity of lower 6 was observed, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that there is a possibility of another major earthquake occurring within the next two to three days, and has called for special caution. With heavy rainfall also forecast due to Typhoons No. 7 and 8, the risk of landslide disasters is expected to increase.

Evita Ayataka, head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring Division at the Japan Meteorological Agency, stated through NHK and Mainichi Shimbun on this day, “We need to be prepared for earthquakes of up to seismic intensity lower 6 for about a week, and especially for the next two to three days, there is a high possibility of a major earthquake,” adding, “In areas where a heavy rain warning has been issued, particular attention should be paid to the risk of landslides.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.