Disaster Hits Japan as Tropical Storm Jangmi Triggers Widespread Blackouts

Tropical storm Jangmi hit Japan on Wednesday (3/6/2026), disrupting transportation, business operations, and electricity supplies. The extreme weather triggered by the storm left tens of thousands of households in darkness and forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights.

Japanese Government Spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that the storm has caused power outages for almost 60,000 households. He also urged the public to take immediate safety measures if they perceive any threat from the extreme weather.

“If you feel danger, do not hesitate to take immediate action to protect your life,” Kihara said during a routine press conference, as reported by Reuters.

According to data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the centre of the storm is located off the coast of Honshu Island and is moving north-east towards the Tokyo Metropolitan area. The storm brings maximum wind speeds of up to 25 metres per second, with a central pressure of 980 hPa.

Japanese weather authorities have warned that several regions along the Pacific coast face a high risk of disasters that could threaten lives. Local governments have issued evacuation warnings for hundreds of thousands of residents across eight prefectures spanning the south-western, central, and eastern regions of Japan.

The impact of the storm is also being felt in the transport sector. Airlines Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) cancelled nearly 900 domestic and international flights on Wednesday morning due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Furthermore, several Shinkansen high-speed train services in the Kyushu and western Japan regions experienced delays. Meanwhile, East Japan Railway has suspended some train services in the Tokyo area and warned of potential further disruptions throughout the day.

The manufacturing sector has also been affected. Toyota Motor decided to temporarily suspend operations at 13 of its domestic plants on Wednesday morning as a precautionary measure against the extreme weather. Suzuki Motor has also suspended activities across all five of its factories located in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo.

The Japanese government and local meteorological agencies continue to issue warnings for citizens to remain vigilant against potential disasters, including complying with evacuation orders and monitoring weather updates regularly.