Deadly rainfall in Japan; Atleast 4 killed
Tokyo: At least four people have died and thousands of travellers were stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport after unprecedented rainfall triggered widespread flooding, landslides and power outages in Japan’s Chiba prefecture.
More than 360 millimetres of rain fell within 24 hours in parts of Chiba, which borders Tokyo, with rainfall exceeding 100 mm per hour in some areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) described the downpour as an “unprecedented level” of heavy rain, while local authorities issued their highest-level emergency warning on Qugust 12, Thursday before downgrading it to level four on August 13, Friday morning.
The torrential rain inundated roads and railway lines, disrupted transport and left more than 20,000 households without electricity. Chiba authorities said at least four people had died, including a 66-year-old woman found inside a submerged vehicle. Others were found collapsed on flooded roads or streets. Several people were also reported missing or feared dead, while at least five people were wounded.
The deluge severely disrupted travel around Narita International Airport, one of Tokyo’s main international gateways. Around 6,000-7,000 passengers were stranded overnight after rail services connecting the airport with Tokyo were suspended. Airport staff distributed water, food, blankets and sleeping bags as travellers spent the night across terminal buildings.
“We’re never going to forget this trip,” one American traveller stranded at the airport with his family told Japanese broadcaster NHK.
Although flights were scheduled to operate normally on August 13, Friday, Japan Airlines warned that some services could face delays, while no cancellations were expected. Several railway services remained suspended and major highways in Chiba were closed, forcing motorists onto alternative routes and creating severe traffic congestion.
The flooding also forced residents into temporary shelters. Hundreds of people spent the night at government facilities, including around 1,800 at the Chiba Prefectural Government building. More than 100,000 residents had earlier been asked to evacuate after the extreme rainfall triggered flooding and landslide risks.
Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai called the situation highly unusual, saying he had responded to numerous disasters but had never experienced an event of this scale. Authorities said rescue operations and efforts to protect lives remained their top priority.
The JMA said the extreme weather was caused by warm, humid air flowing into eastern Japan and colliding with cold air above, creating highly unstable atmospheric conditions. The rainfall was around three times the average August precipitation in parts of Chiba and represented the highest volume of precipitation recorded there.
The disaster comes amid a week of intense storms across East Asia, with Japan, China and the Philippines facing severe weather and flooding. Authorities in the Philippines also suspended schools and government operations in parts of the north because of flood risks.
Scientists have warned that human-driven climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent, prolonged and intense, raising concerns over the growing impact of record-breaking rainfall and storms across the region.
