Japan orders one million to evacuate as Mekkhala and Higos trigger Taiwan shutdowns

Japan placed about one million people under evacuation orders on June 26, 2026, as torrential rain, swollen rivers and landslide risks spread across western and southern regions ahead of two approaching tropical storms. More than 200 flights were cancelled, dozens of railway services were suspended and several expressways were closed as Tropical Storm Mekkhala and Tropical Storm Higos interacted with an already active seasonal rain front.

Across Taiwan, rain associated with Mekkhala forced authorities to close offices and schools in Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Tainan and Hsinchu, areas with a combined population of roughly six million. Flooding interrupted part of Taiwan’s main north to south railway, while officials prepared to move nearly 200 residents from communities downstream of a rapidly filling barrier lake in Hualien County.

Mekkhala had weakened from a typhoon into a tropical storm after passing near Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands. It was forecast to move towards Japan as Higos approached from the east, creating the possibility that both systems would deliver additional warm and moisture-rich air into the seasonal rain front over Japan.

No deaths had been reported in Taiwan during the initial emergency response, although flooding affected roads, homes, businesses and transport infrastructure. In Japan, a man was injured after falling into a waterway in Nara Prefecture, while more than 30 homes were reported flooded in Nara and Hiroshima as authorities warned that conditions could deteriorate further.

What happened as Tropical Storms Mekkhala and Higos approached Japan on June 26?

Heavy rain was already falling across large parts of western Japan before either tropical storm reached the country’s main islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the seasonal rain front had combined with warm, moist air associated with Mekkhala and Higos, increasing the threat of prolonged downpours rather than producing only a short period of storm-related rainfall.

Mekkhala was moving across the southern island chain after skirting Taiwan, while Higos was approaching Japan from the Pacific. Forecasts indicated that Mekkhala could move towards western and eastern Japan on June 27 as Higos drew closer to the country’s eastern coastline and potentially made landfall.

The danger came from the interaction between the storms and the seasonal front. Tropical systems can transport significant amounts of moisture over long distances, causing intense rainfall far away from the storm centre. Mountainous terrain can then force that moisture upward, producing heavier rain over slopes, river valleys and communities already experiencing saturated ground conditions.

Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and other western areas faced flood and landslide warnings as rivers rose and drainage systems struggled to handle the rainfall. Photographs from Kyoto showed the Kamo River flowing rapidly, while road damage was reported in Osaka after water burst from a manhole.

The arrival of two storms in quick succession also reduced the opportunity for conditions to stabilise. Even if one system weakened, moisture from the second storm could continue feeding the rain front, allowing rainfall to persist after residents might ordinarily expect the danger to pass.

Why did Japan place about one million people under evacuation orders across western regions?

Japanese emergency authorities placed approximately one million people under evacuation orders as communities faced overlapping threats from landslides, river flooding and rapidly accumulating rainfall. Some earlier orders were lifted in Okinawa and other southern locations, but large populations remained covered by evacuation measures as the rain shifted north and east.

Japan’s evacuation system includes several warning levels intended to encourage residents to move before conditions make travel impossible. Older people, people with disabilities and households requiring additional assistance may be advised to leave earlier, while the highest alerts indicate that residents should take immediate action to protect their lives.

Landslides are a particular danger because about three quarters of Japan’s territory is mountainous or heavily forested. Intense rainfall can loosen soil and rocks above homes, roads and railway lines, while narrow valleys can channel water and debris towards populated areas with little warning.

Flooding presents a separate risk in urban and rural communities. Rivers can rise rapidly when rainfall falls across an entire catchment, even when the weather appears less severe in the immediate neighbourhood. Underground spaces, tunnels, car parks and low-lying streets can also fill quickly when drainage systems become overwhelmed.

Authorities therefore urged residents not to wait until rivers overflowed or slopes began collapsing. Evacuation becomes more dangerous after roads are submerged, visibility declines and emergency services are diverted to multiple incidents.

The limited number of reported injuries during the early stages suggested that precautionary closures and evacuation measures were reducing immediate exposure. However, officials warned that the most dangerous period could occur as additional rainfall reached areas where the soil was already saturated.

How did Tropical Storm Mekkhala disrupt schools, offices and rail travel across Taiwan?

Taiwan ordered offices and schools closed on June 26 in Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Tainan, the three southern regions experiencing some of the heaviest rainfall. Authorities in Hsinchu later announced closures from noon as flooding and rising rivers affected the northern technology centre.

About six million people live across the four affected areas. The closures were intended to keep commuters off flooded roads, reduce pressure on public transport and allow emergency personnel to respond without large numbers of people moving through dangerous conditions.

Severe flooding in Tainan interrupted part of Taiwan’s principal north to south railway corridor. The line is an essential connection between the island’s largest cities and industrial centres, meaning even a partial closure can cause widespread delays for passengers, freight and businesses.

Road flooding was reported in several locations, while businesses and underground parking facilities in Hsinchu dealt with water entering buildings. A shop owner in Zhubei told Reuters that water reached close to knee height inside the property after rain continued through the morning.

Pingtung received almost one metre of rainfall in some areas from June 25 into June 26. Such totals can overwhelm drainage channels, inundate agricultural land and destabilise mountain slopes even when the storm centre remains offshore.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company said its semiconductor factories continued operating normally and that precautions had been implemented across its facilities. The statement reduced immediate concerns about disruption to advanced-chip production, although continued flooding around Hsinchu could still affect employees, suppliers and transport networks.

Why is the rapidly filling barrier lake in Hualien one of Taiwan’s most serious risks?

Authorities prepared to evacuate approximately 200 residents from two Hualien County townships located downstream of a barrier lake that was filling rapidly during the heavy rain. The precaution reflected concern that water could overtop or breach the natural obstruction holding the lake in place.

Barrier lakes form when landslides, rocks, mud or other debris block a river valley. The obstruction behaves like an unplanned dam, causing water to accumulate behind material that may be unstable and was not engineered to withstand sustained pressure.

The danger increases as the lake rises. Water can flow over the top and erode the barrier, or pressure can cause the blockage to collapse suddenly. A failure can release a fast-moving mixture of water, mud, rocks and trees towards downstream communities.

Hualien experienced a deadly barrier-lake disaster during Super Typhoon Ragasa in 2025. Nineteen people were killed after a lake breached and sent a wall of water and debris into homes, demonstrating why authorities were unwilling to wait for clear evidence of another collapse before ordering evacuations.

Monitoring such a lake can be difficult during severe weather. Heavy cloud, rain and unstable slopes can limit access for engineers, aircraft and emergency workers. Water levels may also change faster than expected when intense rain falls across the upstream catchment.

The current evacuation does not mean that a breach is certain. It reflects the potentially catastrophic consequences of delaying action when a natural dam is filling rapidly and residents have limited time to reach higher ground.

How extensive were flight, railway, road and factory disruptions across Japan and Taiwan?

More than 200 flights were cancelled in Japan as airlines adjusted operations around the Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu and other affected regions. Weather-related delays were also expected to spread as Mekkhala and Higos moved closer to major air routes and population centres.

Dozens of train services were suspended, while expressway sections closed because of flooding, poor visibility and landslide risks. Rail operators frequently halt services before conditions become critical because high-speed trains require clear tracks, stable embankments and reliable electrical infrastructure.

Toyota Motor Corporation briefly stopped work at a factory in Kyushu after suspending operations from the afternoon of June 25. The company expected work to resume during the second shift on June 26, indicating that the closure was precautionary rather than the result of reported major damage.

The interruption illustrates how extreme weather can affect industrial production even when factories themselves remain intact. Employees may be unable to travel safely, parts deliveries can be delayed and transport restrictions can prevent finished vehicles or components from leaving plants.

Taiwan faced similar disruption around its railway system and local roads, although Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported normal factory operations. Maintaining semiconductor output does not remove the wider economic risk because prolonged flooding can affect power supply, water systems, logistics providers and staff transportation.

The immediate economic impact will depend on how quickly rain weakens and transport networks reopen. A short disruption may largely shift flights, railway journeys and production into later periods, while extended flooding can damage property, inventories, agricultural output and public infrastructure.

Why can two tropical storms intensify rainfall even without making a direct landfall?

A tropical storm does not need to cross directly over a city to produce dangerous rainfall. Its circulation can pull warm, humid air from the ocean and direct it towards an existing weather front hundreds of kilometres away.

When that air reaches a stationary or slow-moving front, it rises, cools and releases moisture. If the pattern continues, the same communities can experience repeated bands of rain, causing total rainfall to become more dangerous than any single short downpour.

Japan’s mountainous terrain increases this effect because moist air rises as it encounters slopes. This can create significant differences in rainfall over relatively short distances, with one town experiencing severe flooding while another nearby receives less intense rain.

The presence of Mekkhala and Higos on different sides of Japan also complicated forecasting. Changes in the speed, track or strength of either storm could alter where moisture converges and where the heaviest rain falls.

Mekkhala’s weakening from a typhoon did not remove the threat because rainfall risk is not determined solely by wind speed. A weaker tropical storm can still carry enormous amounts of moisture and produce destructive flooding when it interacts with another weather system.

Authorities therefore focused on rainfall totals, river conditions and landslide danger rather than the storms’ formal classifications. The approach recognises that a downgraded storm can remain deadly when the ground is saturated and waterways are already near capacity.

What should residents and travellers watch as Mekkhala and Higos move towards Japan?

Residents should follow local evacuation instructions rather than relying only on national storm forecasts. Local authorities have more detailed information about nearby rivers, slopes, roads, shelters and neighbourhoods that are likely to become isolated.

People in landslide-prone areas should avoid steep slopes and locations beneath unstable hillsides. Those living close to rivers, drainage channels or coastal lowlands should move before roads flood, particularly when elderly relatives, children or people with limited mobility require assistance.

Travellers should expect further airline, rail and road changes through June 27. Even services outside the heaviest rain areas may be disrupted because aircraft, trains and staff are positioned through interconnected national networks.

In Taiwan, attention will remain focused on Hualien’s barrier lake, flooded areas in the south and the restoration of the main railway corridor. Officials will also watch whether further rain affects Hsinchu’s technology and industrial infrastructure.

In Japan, the critical questions are whether Higos makes landfall, how closely Mekkhala approaches the main islands and whether the seasonal rain front remains over western and central regions. A slower-moving system would increase the risk of prolonged rainfall over already saturated ground.

The situation remains an evolving public-safety emergency rather than a completed storm event. The absence of widespread casualties during the initial phase should not be interpreted as evidence that the most serious danger has passed.

What are the key takeaways from the Mekkhala and Higos storm emergency?

• Japan placed approximately one million people under evacuation orders on June 26, 2026, as Tropical Storms Mekkhala and Higos channelled moisture into a seasonal rain front, increasing risks from flooding, landslides and swollen rivers.
• More than 200 flights were cancelled, dozens of train services were suspended and several expressways were closed across Japan, while Toyota Motor Corporation temporarily halted operations at a Kyushu manufacturing facility.
• Taiwan closed offices and schools in Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Tainan and Hsinchu, regions with a combined population of roughly six million, as torrential rain flooded roads, businesses and transport infrastructure.
• Flooding shut part of Taiwan’s main north to south railway corridor, creating significant passenger and freight disruption even though Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported that its semiconductor factories continued operating normally.
• Authorities prepared to evacuate nearly 200 people from Hualien communities downstream of a rapidly filling barrier lake, where a collapse could release a dangerous surge of water, mud, rocks and debris.
• Tropical Storm Mekkhala had weakened from a typhoon, but it continued carrying substantial moisture towards Japan, demonstrating that a lower storm classification does not necessarily mean a lower flood or landslide threat.
• Tropical Storm Higos was forecast to approach eastern Japan at approximately the same time as Mekkhala moved towards western and eastern regions, creating a complex and potentially prolonged rainfall emergency.
• No deaths had been reported in Taiwan during the initial response, while Japan reported one injury and flooding affecting more than 30 homes, but authorities warned that saturated ground could worsen later impacts.