Japan evacuates up to 2 million people as twin tropical storms bring torrential rain and flooding

Jun 26, 2026

Japan and Taiwan brace for severe weather as tropical storms Mekkhala and Higos bring torrential rain. Japanese authorities order up to two million people to evacuate amid landslide and flood warnings, particularly in Kyoto. The storms disrupt transport, cancelling over 200 flights and halting a Toyota factory. In Taiwan, heavy rains shut down schools, offices, and a major rail link, while Hualien County evacuates residents near a filling barrier lake.

Tropical storms Mekkhala Higos

▪Tropical Storm Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos approached Japan on June 26, 2026, threatening to bring heavy rainfall and make landfall over the weekend.
▪A lingering seasonal rain front combined with warm, moist air from tropical storms Mekkhala and Higos to bring downpours to western Japan on June 26, 2026.

Japan evacuation orders

▪Japanese authorities ordered between 1 million and over 2 million people to evacuate on June 26, 2026, amid landslide and flood warnings.
▪Japanese authorities issued the highest emergency level 5 in Kyoto's Seika town following a landslide on June 26, 2026.

Transport disruptions cancellations

▪Toyota briefly halted operations at its Kyushu factory from the afternoon of June 25, 2026, before resuming work on the second shift of June 26, 2026.
▪Heavy rainfall in Japan on June 26, 2026, caused the cancellation of over 200 flights, suspension of dozens of train services, and closure of expressways.

Taiwan flooding rail closures

▪Severe flooding in Tainan, Taiwan, shut down a section of the island's main north-south railway link on June 26, 2026.
▪Torrential rains from Tropical Storm Mekkhala forced the closure of offices and schools in southern Taiwan and Hsinchu on June 26, 2026.

TSMC factory operations

▪Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company implemented precautionary measures across its Taiwan facilities to prepare for heavy rainfall on June 26, 2026.
▪Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced its factories operated normally on June 26, 2026, despite regional office and school closures in Hsinchu.

Hualien barrier lake risk

▪Authorities in Hualien County, Taiwan, evacuated nearly 200 residents from two townships downstream of a rapidly filling barrier lake on June 26, 2026.
▪A barrier lake breach in Hualien, Taiwan, during Super Typhoon Ragasa in September 2025 resulted in 19 deaths.