This phote taken on Oct. 9, 2025 shows Hachijo on Hachijo Island, south of Tokyo, where a special heavy rain warning was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency with Typhoon Halong approaching. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — A special heavy rain warning was temporarily issued for the Izu island chain south of Tokyo on Thursday, as a strong typhoon passed near the area, bringing record heavy rainfall to the southern part of the chain.
Typhoon Halong was moving in a northeasterly direction over the Pacific, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue the alert covering Hachijo Island, some 280 kilometers south of the Japanese capital.
The alert was downgraded to a warning by 2:30 p.m. The agency also downgraded special warnings for strong winds and high waves for Hachijo and six other island municipalities.
It said rainfall on Hachijo in the three hours through 7 a.m. reached 207 millimeters, the highest ever for the area.
The weather forced hundreds of residents in the region to take refuge at evacuation centers.
The agency also said that winds of up to 196.92 km per hour were logged early Thursday morning on Hachijo.
Some building damage caused by strong winds, such as roofs being blown away, was reported, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government and local authorities. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Police said three men who were fishing in Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture facing the Pacific were swept away by waves, leaving one dead. Local authorities said advisories for high waves and strong winds were issued for the town at the time.
The typhoon, which was formed on Sunday, intensified more than the agency had estimated, possible because the sea surface temperature along the typhoon’s path was around 28 C, one to two degrees higher than average, according to the agency.
AloJapan.com